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Copper kills viruses and bacteria so why aren't our surfaces covered in it ?<br>
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Antimicrobial Copper Copper kills viruses and bacteria so why aren't our surfaces covered in it?
Copper • Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. • It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. • Copper is one of the few metals that can occur in nature in a directly usable metallic form (native metals)
Copper • Copper used in buildings, usually for roofing. Copper is sometimes used in decorative art, both in its elemental metal form and in compounds as pigments. • Copper compounds are used as bacteriostatic agents, fungicides, and wood preservatives.
Introduction • Copper a material with the power to kill bacteria and viruses in their tracks — has long been exploited for its health benefits. • In ancient times, Egyptian and Babylonian soldiers would use it to sterilise their wounds; the Greeks, Romans and Aztecs used it to treat headaches and ear infections; and in India, copper vessels have been used for millennia in the transportation of water.
Egyptian and Babylonian soldiers would use it to sterilise their wounds
Copper a material with the power to kill bacteria and viruses
Introduction • Today, we understand why copper is strong against viruses: because it is antimicrobial. • It kills bacteria. when influenzas, bacteria like E. coli, superbugs like MRSA, they can die within minutes and are undetectable within hours. • That’s a massive difference compared to the four to five days they can last on other surfaces. • what’s more, copper and its alloys like brasses, bronzes, cupronickel, copper-nickel-zinc can self-sterilize its surface without the need for electricity or bleach.
Introduction • During the repeated cholera epidemics in the mid-nineteenth century, physician victor burq discovered that using the material could help prevent widespread disease. • He recommended using it for preventive and corrective ingestion of copper, after observing that smelter workers were unaffected by the disease.
Physician Victor Burq Discovered That Using The Material Could Help Prevent Widespread Disease
Introduction • The studies continue — as fast company reports, using copper has been shown to reduce bacteria in health care settings by 90 percent. • A study from 1983 found that hospital door knobs made of brass barely had any E. coli growth on them, compared to stainless steel knobs which were ‘heavily colonized.’
A Study From 1983 Found That Hospital Door Knobs Made Of Brass Barely Had Any E. Coli Growth On Them
Introduction • A more contemporary study, conducted by researchers working on a department of defence in 2015, compared infection rates at three hospitals, and found that when copper alloys were used in three hospitals, it reduced infection rates by 58%. • A similar study was done in 2016 inside a paediatric intensive care unit, which charted a similarly impressive reduction in infection rate
when copper alloys were used in three hospitals, it reduced infection rates by 58%.
Introduction • As a result of research like this, the united states environmental protection agency (EPA) has even approved the registrations of copper alloys as ‘antimicrobial materials with public health benefits’ allowing manufacturers to make legal claims to the public health benefits of products made of registered alloys.
environmental protection agency (EPA) has even approved the registrations of copper alloys as ‘antimicrobial materials with public health benefits’
Introduction • So why don’t we make the most of this material today? • while copper boomed during the industrial revolution as a material for objects, fixtures, and buildings it was later pushed out by new materials like plastic, tempered glass, aluminium and steel. • In addition to that, there’s not enough data on copper and other technologies to make recommendations on what hospitals should do.
Introduction • The research that has been conducted is significant because of how much of a problem healthcare-acquired infections are, not to mention the current climate. • In the US alone, there are about 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths linked to HAIs per year, a total cost between $35.7 and $45 billion annually, from the extra treatments people need when they get infected.
Introduction • Virus that causes COVID-19 was shown to hang around on plastic packaging and plastic medical equipment for up to three days after contamination, according to a pre-print paper from researchers at the national institute of health. the team behind the paper looked at how long the virus that causes the new corona virus (SARA-COV-2) can survive on different substances from cardboard to copper, comparing its lifespan to the virus that causes SARS (SARS-COV-1).
Introduction • the results show that the COVID-19 virus appears to survive longest on polypropylene and stainless steel, where it can survive for two to three days after the initial contamination. • On cardboard, it survived for nearly an entire day in some cases—up to 24 hours—post-contamination. not surprisingly, it lasted the least amount of time on copper, where it survived only up to four hours.
Historical Uses of Copper for Hygiene • Copper is humankind’s oldest metal being used for water transportation, coins and jewelry, weapons and more. • Long before the germ theory of disease was developed, civilizations used copper to kill diseases- causing organisms • Egypt (2000 BC) – Purify drinking water and treat wounds • Hippocrates (400 BC) – Treat leg ulcers related to varicose veins • Aztecs- Copper Oxide and malachite for Skin Conditions
Historical Uses of Copper for Hygiene • The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Aztecs used copper-based preparations to treat burns, sore throats and skin rashes, as well as for day-to-day hygiene. • Greek soldiers are reported to have scraped the bronze from their swords into open wounds to reduce the likelihood of infection during battles.
The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Aztecs used copper-based preparations to treat burns, sore throats and skin rashes, as well as for day-to-day hygiene
Greek soldiers are reported to have scraped the bronze from their swords into open wounds to reduce the likelihood of infection
Historical Uses of Copper for Hygiene • In the last few decades, extensive research has been carried out on the antimicrobial properties of copper and its alloys against a range of microorganisms including those responsible for HCAIs.
Antimicrobial Properties of Copper • Copper and its alloys (brasses, bronzes, cupronickel, copper-nickel-zinc, and others) are natural antimicrobial materials. • Ancient civilizations exploited the antimicrobial properties of copper long before the concept of microbes became understood in the nineteenth century.
Antimicrobial Properties of Copper • In addition to several copper medicinal preparations, it was also observed centuries ago that water contained in copper vessels or transported in copper conveyance systems was of better quality (i.e., no or little visible slime or bio fouling formation) than water contained or transported in other materials.
Antimicrobial Properties of Copper • The antimicrobial properties of copper are still under active investigation. Molecular mechanisms responsible for the antibacterial action of copper have been a subject of intensive research. • Scientists are also actively demonstrating the intrinsic efficacy of copper alloy "touch surfaces" to destroy a wide range of microorganisms that threaten public health.
Mechanisms Of Antimicrobial Action • In 1852 Victor Burq discovered those working with copper had far fewer deaths to cholera than anyone else, and did extensive research confirming this. • In 1867 he presented his findings to the French Academies of Science and Medicine, informing them that putting copper on the skin was effective at preventing someone from getting cholera
Victor Burq discovered those working with copper had far fewer deaths to cholera than anyone else Victor Burq
Mechanisms Of Antimicrobial Action • The oligodynamic effect was discovered in 1893 as a toxic effect of metal ions on living cells, algae, molds, spores, fungi, viruses, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic microorganisms, even in relatively low concentrations
Mechanisms Of Antimicrobial Action • In 1973, researchers at Battelle Columbus Laboratories conducted a comprehensive literature, technology and patent search that traced the history of understanding the "bacteriostatic and sanitizing properties of copper and copper alloy surfaces", which demonstrated that copper, in very small quantities, has the power to control a wide range of molds, fungi, algae and harmful microbes
Mechanisms Of Antimicrobial Action • Currently, researchers believe that the most important antimicrobial mechanisms for copper are as follows: • Elevated copper levels inside a cell causes oxidative stress and the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Under these conditions, copper participates in the so-called Fenton-type reaction — a chemical reaction causing oxidative damage to cells. • Excess copper causes a decline in the membrane integrity of microbes, leading to leakage of specific essential cell nutrients, such as potassium and glutamate. This leads to desiccation and subsequent cell death.
Mechanisms Of Antimicrobial Action • While copper is needed for many protein functions, in an excess situation (as on a copper alloy surface), copper binds to proteins that do not require copper for their function. • This "inappropriate" binding leads to loss-of-function of the protein, and/or breakdown of the protein into non-functional portions. • These potential mechanisms, as well as others, are the subject of continuing study by academic research laboratories around the world.
Antimicrobial efficacy of copper alloy touch surfaces • Copper alloy surfaces have intrinsic properties to destroy a wide range of microorganisms. • E. coli • E. coli O157:H7 is a potent, highly infectious, ACDP (Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, UK) Hazard Group 3 food borne and waterborne pathogen. The bacterium produces potent toxins that cause diarrhoea, severe aches and nausea in infected persons
Antimicrobial efficacy of copper alloy touch surfaces • Recent studies have shown that copper alloy surfaces kill E. coli O157:H7. • Over 99.9% of E. coli microbes are killed after just 1–2 hours on copper. On stainless steel surfaces, the microbes can survive for weeks. • Results of E. coli O157:H7 destruction on an alloy containing 99.9% copper (C11000) demonstrate that this pathogen is rapidly and almost completely killed (over 99.9% kill rate) within ninety minutes at room temperature (20 °C)
