Ann Clin Microbiol.  2018 Dec;21(4):80-85. 10.5145/ACM.2018.21.4.80.

Inhibitory Effect of Metal Surface on the Antimicrobial Resistance Microorganism

• Kim JB
• Kim JK
• Kim H
• Cho EJ
• Park YJ
• Lee HK

• KMID: 2429651
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2018.21.4.80

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the bactericidal effects of copper, brass (copper 78%, tin 22%), and stainless steel against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREFM), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA).
METHODS
The isolates (MRSA, VREFM, MRPA) used in this study were mixed wild type 3 strains isolated from patients treated at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital in 2017. These strains showed patterns of multidrug resistance. The lyophilized strains were inoculated into and incubated for 24 hr in tryptic soy broth at 35℃. The initial bacterial inoculum concentration was adjusted to 105 CFU/mL. A 100-mL bacterial suspension was incubated in containers made of brass (copper 78%, tin 22%), copper (above 99% purity), and stainless steel at 35℃. Viable counts of bacteria strains were measured for 9 days.
RESULTS
In this study, the bactericidal effects of copper and brass on MRSA, VREFM, and MRPA were verified. The bactericidal effect of stainless steel was much weaker than those of copper and brass. The bactericidal effect was stronger on MRPA than on MRSA or VREFM.
CONCLUSION
To prevent cross infection of multidrug resistant bacteria in hospitals, further studies of longer duration are needed for testing of copper materials on objects such as door knobs, faucets, and bed rails.

Keyword

Bactericidal effect; Brass; Copper; Multidrug resistant bacteria

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Copper
Cross Infection
Drug Resistance, Multiple
Enterococcus faecium
Humans
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Stainless Steel
Tin
Copper
Stainless Steel
Tin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Viable count of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in phosphate buffered water of brass, copper and stainless steel container. (B) Viable count of S. aureus (ATCC 29213) in phosphate buffered water of brass, copper and stainless steel container.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Viable count of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in phosphate buffered water of brass, copper and stainless steel container. (B) Viable count of E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) in phosphate buffered water of brass, copper and stainless steel container.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Viable count of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in phosphate buffered water of brass, copper and stainless steel container. (B) Viable count of P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) in phosphate buffered water of brass, copper and stainless steel container.

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