More healthcare facilities are using antimicrobial copper to prevent hospital acquired infections (HAIs), according to an article on the Facility Cleaning & Maintenance website.
Harmful infectious bacteria can survive for days, weeks, or even months on surfaces that are commonly found in hospitals, such as stainless steel and plastic. Antimicrobial copper continuously kill 99.9 percent of these bacteria.
Antimicrobial copper destroys bacteria on contact and prevents infectious agents from mutating.
Studies by The Health Economics Consortium showed that within two months of installation, hospitals recouped the initial cost of switching to antimicrobial copper via savings accrued from fewer blocked beds, shorter patient stays and better-directed staff resources, the article said.
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