Efficacy Of Copper To Reduce Acquisition Of Microbes and Healthcare-acquired Infections

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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CONTEXT: Healthcare-acquired infections (HAI) cause substantial patient morbidity and mortality. Commonly touched items in the patient care environment harbor microorganisms that may contribute to HAI risk. Thus, reduction in the surface bioburden may be an effective strategy to reduce HAI. Inherent biocidal capabilities of copper surfaces offer a theoretical advantage to conventional cleaning, as disinfection is continuous rather than episodic. OBJECTIVE: Determine whether placement of copper-alloy surfaced objects in an intensive care unit (ICU) reduce risk of HAI. DESIGN: An intention to treat study where patients are sequentially placed into rooms with or without copper-alloy surfaced objects. SETTING: The ICUs of three hospitals, a tertiary academic hospital, an academic cancer center, and a Veteran's Administration Medical Center. PATIENTS: Any patient 18 years of age or older who required admission to an ICU at a study hospital is eligible for placement into a study room if available. INTERVENTION: Placement of copper-alloy surfaced objects in an ICU room. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Rate of incident HAI and/or colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in each type of room.

Official Title
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Copper Antimicrobial Research Program: Environmental and Patient Sampling For Indicator Organisms To Determine The Efficacy Of Copper To Reduce Acquisition Of Microbes From The Patient Care Environment

Conditions
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Healthcare-acquired Infection

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Copper-alloy surfaced patient care objects


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: patients 18 years and older requiring admission to an ICU at one of the study sites were eligible Exclusion Criteria: less than 18 years of age or pregnant

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Copper Surfaced Room<br>Patients sequentially randomized to this arm were admitted to an ICU room with copper surfaced objects. | Other: Copper-alloy surfaced patient care objects<br>* Copper-alloy surfaced bed rails, over bed tray tables, chair arms, nurse call devices, laptop and computer monitor bezels, and IV poles were placed into the patient ICU rooms.<br>|
| No Intervention: Standard Surfaced Room<br>Patients sequentially randomized to this arm were admitted to an ICU room with standard surfaced objects | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rate of incident HAI and/or colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in each type of room. | Patients prospectively followed from ICU admission to hospital discharge for acquisition of HAI and/or colonization with MRSA or VRE | July 2010 to June 2011 (up to 1 year) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Microbial burden and risk of HAI | The risk of HAI among patients admitted to ICU will be assessed by microbial burden of environment. | July 2010 to June 2011 (up to 1 year) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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healthcare-acquired infections, colonization, copper-alloy surfaces