Copper destroys MARSA and other pathogens

T

timojin

Valued Senior Member
Dr. Sarah Warnes, lead author of the new research, explains: "Our latest research shows that in simulated fingertip contamination of surfaces with millions of MRSA or MSSA, the cells can remain alive for long periods on non-antimicrobial surfaces - such as stainless steel - but are killed even more rapidly than droplet contamination on copper and copper alloys. Exposure to copper damages the bacterial respiration and DNA, resulting in irreversible cell breakdown and death."

This new paper, published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, demonstrates that MRSA die on copper surfaces by a multifaceted attack from copper ions and reactive oxygen species (ROS)
http://aem.asm.org/content/early/2016/01/25/AEM.03861-15
 
In the past, bronze door handles were common. I lost the link, but there was a study which showed that modern door handles made of iron, aluminum or plastics bear generally more germs than the old bronze ones. The copper and also the tin of the bronze are poisonous to many microbes.

But iron, aluminum and plastics are cheapers, and available in larger quantities. Copper and tin both become rare. (But, well, door handles don't require that much material ...)

Edit 1:

Was googling, and found this:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...what-door-handles-actually-kill-bacteria.aspx

The copper items had up to 95 percent fewer bugs on their surface than non-copper versions whenever they were tested.
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Not the article which I had in mind, but still supporting the claim - copper alloys are better for handles, if one wants to keep germs few.

Edit 2:

And I stand corrected in aspect of the prices:

Although it is usually thought to be an expensive metal, copper is not that much more expensive than stainless steel. You can find copper kitchen faucets, for example, for as low as $150-200.
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timojin said:
Dr. Sarah Warnes, lead author of the new research, explains: "Our latest research shows that in simulated fingertip contamination of surfaces with millions of MRSA or MSSA, the cells can remain alive for long periods on non-antimicrobial surfaces - such as stainless steel - but are killed even more rapidly than droplet contamination on copper and copper alloys. Exposure to copper damages the bacterial respiration and DNA, resulting in irreversible cell breakdown and death."

This new paper, published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, demonstrates that MRSA die on copper surfaces by a multifaceted attack from copper ions and reactive oxygen species (ROS)
http://aem.asm.org/content/early/2016/01/25/AEM.03861-15
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Seems to be a well established property of copper and its alloys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper
 
timojin said:
Wiki also mentioned about Marsa , So why is the article impressive, is like to say that is old knowledge. Is it because we forget what we read ?
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Good question. The abstract does not seem to indicate clearly what is new in what they have found. Acc. Wiki, the Southampton team found copper killed MRSA, back in 2004!
 
exchemist said:
Good question. The abstract does not seem to indicate clearly what is new in what they have found. Acc. Wiki, the Southampton team found copper killed MRSA, back in 2004!
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Curious question , it was mentioned by Edont Knoff, Brass and other alloys of copper have an effect on bacteria but Iron or steel have not . So perhaps the bacteria is anaerobic and with Iron the bacteria can live by redox reaction Fe ++ --- Fe+++ + e while with copper it can not due to Cu is on negative EMf side and Fe is on positive side
 
timojin said:
Curious question , it was mentioned by Edont Knoff, Brass and other alloys of copper have an effect on bacteria but Iron or steel have not . So perhaps the bacteria is anaerobic and with Iron the bacteria can live by redox reaction Fe ++ --- Fe+++ + e while with copper it can not due to Cu is on negative EMf side and Fe is on positive side
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Maybe, but clearly there is lot more to it. Read the Wiki article: it lists a huge variety of mechanisms. some are redox-related but there are also protein-binding mechanisms (copper forms complexes) and radical-formation mechanisms.
 
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