Season's greetings and welcome to the final Antimicrobial Copper Newsletter of 2011. This edition covers a new installation in France, news from major international infection control events and an update on product availability.
Additionally, Copper Development Association is supporting an initiative by British Standards Institute and the Knowledge Transfer Network to organise a workshop to progress the development of an appropriate new Standard for antimicrobial hard surfaces. If you would like more information, or to be involved, please let me know.
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Rambouillet Hospital
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A first for France
The Centre Hospitalier de Rambouillet, in the Parisian region, has become the first hospital in France to install antimicrobial copper touch surfaces. Bed rails, trolleys, taps, handrails, door handles and push plates made of copper and copper alloys have been fitted in the intensive care and paediatric units. Rambouillet's Director, Jean-Pierre Richard, says: "Based on 15 years of scientific research carried out in laboratories and in hospitals that demonstrates copper's antimicrobial properties, we decided to affect a proactive risk prevention policy by using innovative materials that will have no impact on the way the medical staff work." More |
International Events
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Presentations at IFIC and ICAN
 Following the announcement of the US trial results at ICPIC, Geneva, linking lower bioburden on copper surfaces with reduced levels of infection, the wider international infection control community have had the opportnity to hear the latest laboratory and clinical results at symposia in Venice and Namibia.
US trial leader Dr Schmidt announced preliminary trial results showing antimicrobial copper surfaces achieved a >40% infection risk reduction in intensive care patients. At the International Federation of Infection Control Conference ( IFIC) and the Infection Control Africa Network Conference ( ICAN), presentations were made by experts in the field of infection prevention and microbiology, including Professors Mehtar, Keevil and Elliott, sharing their experiences with antimicrobial copper. Click here to view the IFIC presentations. |
2012 Product Ranges
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Manufacturers respond to rising interest
Product manufacturers in the UK and Europe are anticipating rising market demand for antimicrobial copper touch surfaces - such as medical equipment, furniture and hardware - and responding by offering innovative product ranges designed with infection prevention in mind.
A range of new products were showcased at the annual Healthcare Estates event, including door furniture, IV poles, trolleys and hospital taps.
The Product Directory is continually updated as new manufacturers are approved to use the Cu+ mark on products.
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