28 HEALTH AND SANITATION
Antimicrobial ( Part 1 )
I am by no means a microbiologist or scientist , but while researching this subject , I found it quite vast in every part of the industry .
By Andy Camphausen
Andrew Camphausen
Andrew ( Andy ) Camphausen has been in the building / plumbing industry for over 20 years . During his six years in the Free State , he was nominated and served as the vice-chairman of IOPSA Free State . He was offered a Regional Management position at Cobra Watertech , which is still his employer today . In 2011 , Andy was promoted to National Channel Manager of the Commercial Sector , where he was transferred to the head office in Bryanston , Gauteng .
This article focuses on antimicrobial in the health care space and , in particular , on surfaces . To properly understand what ‘ antimicrobial ’ means , we start off with some explanations .
DEFINITION OF ANTIMICROBIAL Destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms , especially pathogenic microorganisms .
WHAT IS AN ANTIMICROBIAL SURFACE ? An antimicrobial surface contains an antimicrobial agent that inhibits the ability of microorganisms to grow on the surface of a material . Such surfaces are becoming more widely investigated for possible use in various settings , including clinics , industry , and even in homes .
An innovation in antimicrobial surfaces is the discovery that copper and its alloys ( brasses , bronzes ) are natural antimicrobial materials that have intrinsic properties to destroy a wide range of microorganisms .
An abundance of studies has been published regarding copper ’ s efficacy to destroy , among others , E . coli , staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ), staphylococcus , influenza A virus , adenovirus , and fungi . Apart from the health industry , antimicrobial surfaces in the US have been used for their ability to keep surfaces clean . Either the physical nature of the surface or the chemical composition can be manipulated to create an environment that cannot be inhabited by microorganisms for a variety of different reasons .
Antimicrobial touch surfaces include all the various kind of surfaces , such as door knobs , railings , tray tables , tables , toilets , sinks , basins and more recently , taps and mixers , within the medical fraternity in South Africa .
Antimicrobial copper alloy touch surfaces are surfaces that are made from metal copper and alloys of copper , such as brass and bronze . Copper and copper alloys have a natural ability to kill harmful microbes relatively rapidly — often within two hours or less .
Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of copper alloys to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections are ongoing at hospitals and clinics in the UK , Chile , Japan , South Africa , and the US .
BENEFITS OF COPPER Human health The human body does not manufacture copper , so it needs to be obtained from food and water . Generally , the concentration of copper in food can be up to 2mg / kg in red and organ meats , fish , nuts , chocolate , and green vegetables .
Too little copper in food can be of concern . Serious diseases , ranging from blood and vessel abnormalities to abnormal bone formations and irregular pigmentation of the skin , may be attributed to copper deficiency . Copper deficiency is a risk factor for osteoporosis , rheumatoid arthritis , and heart disease . Even a mild deficiency can lower the immune system , resulting in frequent colds and flu , loss of skin tone , reproductive problems , and fatigue . It is important to understand the positive effects of copper on a human body and how copper helps the body .
Public health According to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ), hundreds of millions of patients are affected by health care-associated infections ( HCAIs ) worldwide each year , leading to significant mortality and financial losses for health systems .
Infections such as MRSA and E . coli are caused by microbes that thrive on objects people touch every day . Despite aggressive hand washing campaigns and routine cleaning and disinfection , infection rates remain very high and more needs to be done to lower the risk of acquiring an infection and improving patient safety .
Tackling the global threat of antibiotic-resistant organisms is a high priority for the WHO and the United Nations . Antimicrobial copper is the only solid-metal touch surface to have efficacy data independently verified through the US Environment Protection Agency ( EPA ) public health registration , which supports its claim to continuously kill more than 99.9 % of the bacteria that cause HCAI within two hours of contact . Three main characteristics make antimicrobial copper the most effective touch surface material : 1 . Continuously kills microbes 2 . Never wears out
• Continuous and ongoing antimicrobial action
• Remains effective even after repeated wet and dry
November 2017 Volume 23 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za