Copper Touch Surfaces: Antimicrobial Benefits

Sponsored by

Copper and copper alloy surfaces such as brass and bronze are intrinsically antimicrobial. They are the only class of solid materials registered with the Environmental Protection Agency to continuously kill more than 99.9% of certain disease-causing bacteria within two hours, including MRSA and VRE. They can be fashioned into a variety of products such as door handles, railings, IV stands, and more to kill disease-causing bacteria between cleanings. At any given time, 1 in 20 hospital patients has a hospital-acquired infection (HAI). Preliminary results in a recent clinical trial showed that Antimicrobial Copper surfaces reduce the bacteria that cause these infections. These results have tremendous implications on patient safety as each year 100,000 people die from HAI's in the U.S. This webinar will explain the research behind the antimicrobial properties of copper and how they can improve the patient environment. The program is AIA accredited and qualifies for one (1) Learning Unit Hour and 1 HSW Contact Hour.

Learning Objectives:

• The significance of microbial surface contamination in the healthcare environment on patient safety.
• The laboratory and clinical research on the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of copper touch surfaces.
• How to create a cleaner and safer patient environment.