Medical centre in Finland uses Luvata antimicrobial copper
Copper floor drains and covers inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens
The new medical centre for the private healthcare provider Mehiläinen Group in Pori is one of the first healthcare facilities in Finland to capitalise on the antimicrobial properties of copper. Opened in early September, the newly renovated facility introduces copper floor drains and covers.
The unit manager at the medical centre and ear, nose and throat specialist Harri Reunanen were already familiar with the electrical and thermal conductivity and recyclability of copper, as well as its natural antimicrobial properties, and wanted to exploit this characteristic further in the renovation of the new facility.
The centre sourced its antimicrobial copper locally from the Luvata facility in Pori, which is an international metals supplier for manufacturing and construction, while floor drain manufacturer Vemta joined the efforts to produce the copper floor drains and covers from this material.
“The tests results of the antimicrobial effectiveness of copper are very convincing,” said Reunanen.
“We chose copper specifically for floor drains, because the moist environment is conducive to growing bacteria.”
In the medical centre the copper drains are in the toilet and equipment maintenance facilities. Infection prevention efforts have been escalated by adding antimicrobial nano coating to door handles and call buttons and silver treatments to the microfibre clothes used by the cleaning service SOL.
International scientific communities have studied the antimicrobial properties of copper extensively and the results are very positive.
A study performed at the West Finland Deacony Rehabilitation Centre in Pori, for example, tested the use of copper on door handles, support rails and floor drain grating and compared it with stainless steel.
“The results showed copper acting quickly and effectively. The copper and brass items were microbiologically cleaner compared with the other material surfaces,” said head of laboratory Kirsi Laitinen from the Hjelt Institute laboratory of hygiene and microbiology, which analysed the samples.
