The Copper Hospital is a unique opportunity to view the simple yet innovative use of copper as an additional weapon in the fight against healthcare-associated infections, and it will be returning to MEDICA this year. A wide range of commercially-available antimicrobial copper touch surfaces will be showcased in a typical healthcare setting, demonstrating the variety of colours, styles and product types available from the global Cu+ supply chain.
Surfaces that are frequently touched by healthcare workers, patients and visitors - such as door furniture, taps, bed rails, and over-bed tables - can act as reservoirs of infection, presenting a risk to patient safety, even with regular cleaning. Replacing these surfaces with antimicrobial copper equivalents means pathogens are eliminated rapidly and continuously, between regular cleans, providing a more hygienic environment and offering an adjunct to standard infection control measures.
'Antimicrobial Copper' is the collective name for a range of materials - solid copper and copper alloys - that benefit from copper's inherent ability to rapidly kill bacteria, viruses and fungi deposited on its surface. Copper has proven efficacy against pathogenic microbes, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA, and challenging viruses such as norovirus.
The Antimicrobial Copper logo and Cu+ mark are used by leading material suppliers and designers, specifiers and manufacturers of components and systems, to indicate their products are made from approved alloys and meet the conditions of the industry stewardship scheme.
Experts will be on hand at MEDICA to provide information on the scientific evidence and the practicalities and economics of designing, manufacturing, specifying and sourcing antimicrobial copper products. Visit the Copper Hospital at MEDICA on Stand B03 in Hall 14 of the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Centre, 12-15 November.
