Copper arrests hospital infections

A Birmingham hospital will launch an 18-month clinical trial in April 2007 to establish whether the installation of copper surfaces will kill MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections.

Like many other hospitals across Europe, Selly Oak Hospital, part of the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, has been fighting superbugs such as MRSA. Laboratory tests at Southampton University have established that the natural antimicrobial properties of copper and copper alloys dramatically reduce the presence of MRSA compared with stainless steel, the most commonly used surface-metal in health institutions.

Now the findings will be put to the test in a real hospital environment. If the trial is successful, copper could be installed widely to cut the death rate from hospital-acquired infections.

According to the National Audit Office, 300,000 patients pick up infections in hospital each year in the UK. At least 5,000 are likely to die as a result. The cost to the NHS is estimated at £1bn per year. Selly Oak has been chosen for the Copper Clinical Trial because it is a multi-specialist centre with an advanced microbiology centre. One general medical ward is already having copper installed in preparation for the trial.