ECRI Institute says antimicrobial copper is a Top 10 technology to watch in 2014

Published: 28-Jan-2014
Media Infection Control

Accolade follows studies that reveal the benefits of copper in healthcare settings


The ECRI Institute, a US-based non-profit health organisation dedicated to researching the best approaches to patient care, has listed antimicrobial copper as one of the top 10 technologies to watch in its 2014 Top 10 Hospital C-Suite Watch List.

Copper earned this distinction less than 12 months after a recent study found that copper kills bacteria and reduces infections. The report was published this month.

While copper's antimicrobial properties have been known for a long time, recent research piloted by the Copper Development Association (CDA) and funded by the US Department of Defense proved that surfaces made from antimicrobial copper alloys such as brass and bronze had 83% fewer bacteria on average compared with surfaces made from traditional materials.

'Our research shows how important antimicrobial copper can be when it comes to increasing patient safety,' said Wilton Moran, Project Engineer at CDA. 'These surfaces don't rely on human behaviour – they serve as an extra layer of protection, constantly working in the background to fight bacteria in between routine cleanings.'

A 2013 study published in the journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology revealed that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in hospital rooms reduced the number of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in intensive care units by 58 %. The study also found that antimicrobial copper surfaces destroy strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, including the superbugs MRSA and VRE.

The ECRI Institute has been evaluating the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of health technologies for more than 45 years. The 2014 Top 10 Hospital C-Suite Watch List serves as a reference guide for both hospital leaders and the public on upcoming noteworthy health technologies or health systems issues each year.

The 2014 Watch List includes a section on 'What To Do' to get started with antimicrobial copper. It is available for download at the ECRI website.

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