SCRA-Led Program Prevents Hospital Acquired Infections
July 18, 2011
Study Results Presented at World Health Organization Conference on Infection Prevention
CHARLESTON, SC – July 14, 2011 – Early results from a comprehensive, multi-site clinical trial in the U.S. demonstrate that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care unit rooms resulted in a 40.4 percent reduction in the risk of acquiring a hospital infection. Initial study results were presented at the World Health Organization’s First International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva, Switzerland on July 1, 2011.
The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, was designed to determine the efficacy of antimicrobial copper in reducing the level of pathogens in hospital rooms, and whether such a reduction would translate into a lower rate of infection. SCRA, though its ATI affiliate, has managed the program since its inception in 2007, capitalizing on their outstanding relationships with both the Department of Defense and the International Copper Association.
Researchers at the three hospitals involved in the trial, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina, replaced commonly touched items, such as bed rails, overbed tray tables, nurse call buttons and IV poles, with antimicrobial copper versions.
Rooms with copper surfaces demonstrated a 97 percent reduction in surface pathogens, the same level achieved by terminal cleaning, the regimen conducted after each patient vacates a room.
Bacteria present on ICU room surfaces are probably responsible for 35 – 80 percent of patient infections, demonstrating how critical it is to keep hospitals clean, said Dr. Michael Schmidt, Professor and Vice Chairman of Microbiology and Immunology at MUSC. The copper objects used in the clinical trial supplemented cleaning protocols, lowered microbial levels and resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the number of infections contracted by patients treated in those rooms. Dr. Schmidt presented the study results at ICPIC.
SCRA and our affiliates continue to lead outstanding collaborations that produce real technical and economic outcomes, said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. The recent clinical trial results prove that copper can save lives and solve a severe problem facing our healthcare system. We look forward to continued successes through our copper programs.
Hospital patients have a one in twenty chance of developing an infection, and of those who develop an infection, one in twenty will die as a result. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that hospital acquired infections in the United Sates kill 100,000 people and cost $45 billion annually.
Independent laboratory testing has demonstrated that, when cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper products kill greater than 99.9% of microorganisms. These include deadly antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA, VRE, and other bacteria which can cause fatal infections, such as Clostridium difficile. Antimicrobial copper has also been proven effective against viruses such as Influenza A and pathogenic fungi. Antimicrobial copper is the only family of solid materials that has been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as capable of killing disease-causing organisms. For a complete listing of approved EPA public health claims for antimicrobial copper products, please visit www.antimicrobialcopper.com and for more information on the Copper Touch Program, please visit http://coppertouchsurfaces.org/index.html.
About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with its headquarters in South Carolina. SCRA has a dual mission:
To advance the Knowledge Economy – SCRA affiliate SC Launch is an economic development program that helps early-stage companies to commercialize innovations and create jobs. Learn more at www.sclaunch.org.
To deliver technology solutions to complex challenges – SCRA affiliate Advanced Technology International (ATI) leads applied research collaborations that develop technologies to improve the mission effectiveness of Federal agencies and the business execution of Corporations. Learn more at www.ati.org.
In support of both missions, SCRA builds and manages research facilities that include wet labs, secure rooms for sensitive work and advanced high-tech manufacturing shops.
