Antibacterial copper CU+ prevents the transmission of bacteria and viruses

This year's COVID crisis has brought an emphasis on a previously overlooked topic in the planning and implementation of public buildings – active efforts towards public health and support for elements that facilitate this. Budgetary constraints will likely continue to be decisive, but the opportunity to minimize the spread of infectious diseases (essentially eliminating bacteria and viruses) will again be on the agenda. One effective and simple measure in public buildings is the installation of handles and grips Cobra, which contain antibacterial copper CU+.


Clinical evaluations have confirmed that copper surfaces provide the most effective antimicrobial protection by killing 99.9% of microbes that adhere to their surface within two hours. Research has shown that antimicrobial copper surfaces can reduce the risk of infections by more than 40%.

If it is not possible to use sliding touchless doors, using door hardware made from antibacterial materials appears optimal. Antibacterial door hardware made from CU+ (antimicrobial copper) presents an affordable and effective way to eliminate bacteria directly on the handle itself. "The understandable interest is particularly visible from the healthcare sector, surprisingly, we supply very few antibacterial handles to restaurants, hotels, and schools, where the risk of spreading bacteria is enormous." says Kristina Boda, director of COBRA, a supplier of antibacterial hardware. "Antibacterial handles will increase hygiene levels without significant initial costs and permanently throughout the lifespan of the door hardware, but it is important for architects or investors to have an interest in taking their buildings to a higher standard of quality."

KEY BENEFITS OF ANTIMICROBIAL COPPER

• Scientifically demonstrated effectiveness of CU+. The material used is significantly more effective than silver.
• The effect is continuous, independent of environmental conditions (moisture, light, etc.)
• The handle remains effective even after repeated wet and dry abrasion and repeated contamination
• Natural oxidation of the handle does not reduce antibacterial effectiveness
• CU+ is fully recyclable
• The only solid metallic surface approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ANTIBACTERIAL HARDWARE

What is meant by "antimicrobial agent"?
"Antimicrobial agent" is the ability of a material to eliminate or inactivate microbes, such as bacteria, fungi (including molds), and viruses. Studies on antimicrobial effectiveness on various surfaces have clearly demonstrated that copper and its alloys can eliminate many types of microbes, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, influenza A virus (~1N1), and Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria.

Has any official agency approved the antimicrobial effectiveness of copper?
Yes. On February 29, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially registered 275 copper alloys with positive public health properties. Since then, seven more alloys have been registered, bringing the total to 282 registered alloys.

What is the significance of this EPA registration?
By registering copper and some of its alloys, such as brass and bronze, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges the antimicrobial properties of these solid materials. Products made from any of these 282 registered alloys are officially registered in the U.S. as products with positive public health properties.

Has copper been tested in clinical evaluations?
Yes, clinical evaluations are currently ongoing in hospitals worldwide, assessing the impact of copper touch surfaces on the quantity of microbes in the hospital environment. In the UK, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, part of the Birmingham NHS Trust, was selected as a test center for this new approach to infection prevention. Initial study results were published in the Journal of Hospital Infection (in January 2010), convincingly showing that copper acts as an antimicrobial agent in a real environment and that surfaces containing copper had 90 to 100% less bacterial contamination than control surfaces made from conventional materials.

What are the real possibilities for using copper as an antimicrobial agent?
Copper is already an active component in numerous antimicrobial products, for example, in agriculture, healthcare, or construction. Copper is an active ingredient in mouthwashes and toothpaste. Copper sinks, scrubbers, and cloths can help prevent cross-contamination in kitchens.


Why are copper-containing surfaces more advantageous than other antimicrobial surfaces?
Copper and copper alloy products retain their antimicrobial properties for a very long time. Even if these surfaces are scratched, their antimicrobial efficacy remains intact.

How can copper help prevent the spread of infections?
Copper kills pathogens, thereby interrupting the chain of infection transmission and serving as an effective complement to regular cleaning routines. Copper is an essential substance for both humans and bacteria, but in high doses, copper ions can cause a number of negative phenomena in bacterial cells. The exact mechanism by which copper destroys bacteria remains unknown, but several theories are currently under study.

• Causes potassium or glutamic acid leakage through bacterial outer membranes
• Disrupts osmotic balance
• Binds to proteins that do not require copper
• Causes oxidative stress by generating hydrogen peroxide

Where can antimicrobial copper be used?
Antimicrobial copper is used as a raw material for the production of items that are frequently touched – in hospitals, schools, gyms, public buildings, and public transportation.


Is it only pure copper that has antimicrobial effects?
No, copper alloys do as well. Tests have been conducted on pure copper, high copper, brass, bronzes, copper-nickel, and copper-nickel-zinc alloys. The latter are sometimes referred to as "nickel silver" due to their shiny white color, even though they contain no silver. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially registered a list of antimicrobial copper alloys with a nominal copper content of more than 60%. The higher the copper content in the alloy, the faster microbes are eliminated.

Do copper and copper alloy surfaces change color over time?
Yes. Their color changes due to natural oxidation and becomes darker. The time required for color change depends on the alloy and environmental conditions. Inside buildings, oxidation is understandably much slower and takes years to manifest, compared to oxidation outdoors.


Does natural oxidation of copper and its alloys affect their antimicrobial properties?
No. On the contrary, it has been shown that the more oxidized and darkened the surfaces of copper, brass, and their alloys are, the more effective they are in eliminating microbes.

More about the antibacterial hardware Cobra CU+ can be found in the article HERE

Download the catalog of antibacterial hardware Cobra CU+ HERE

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