Copper surfaces can help reduce healthcare-associated infections transmitted via the hand in nursing homes, according to a study published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
The study was conducted at a nursing home in France. Researchers studied rates for healthcare-associated infections during outbreaks occurring Feb. 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. They compared infection rates between an area of the nursing home that was equipped with copper surfaces and an area that was not. They included 556 residents in the study.
Four outbreaks occurred during the study period: influenza, keratoconjunctivitis and two gastroenteritis outbreaks.
Residents who lived in the area with copper surfaces had a significantly lower risk of contracting hand-transmitted infections, such as eye infection and diarrhea, compared to those living in the area without the copper surfaces.
Installing copper fixtures and surfaces is a "relatively simple measure to help prevent healthcare-associated infections in nursing homes," study authors concluded.