The role of copper surfaces in reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections are a major public health problem, with an important clinical and economic burden on health systems worldwide. In-vitro and in-vivo studies have shown that copper has the potential to kill microorganisms on contact. It has been described as the "contact killer". Despite this, the preventive role of antimicrobial copper on the reduction of healthcare-associated infections is not clear yet. Aims & Objectives: To assess the role of copper surfaces on the reduction of healthcare-associated infections. Methods: A systematic review of the literature with a meta-analysis. The search was carried out in five electronic databases, grey literature and reference list of included studies. Two researchers independently screened and judged the quality of the included studies. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of the body of evidence. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the introduction of antimicrobial copper alloys surfaces in high-touch surfaces reduced the incidence of healthcare-associated infections by around a quarter (IRR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.97; p = 0.03; low quality of the evidence). Additionally, the probability of achieving the recommended concentration of less than 250 colony forming units/100cm² was 2.73 times higher in copper surfaces than in regular surfaces (RR 2.73, 95% CI 1.83 to 4.07; p <0.00001; moderate quality of the evidence). No significant difference was observed in the mortality rate. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analyses suggest that the introduction of antimicrobial copper alloys in replacement of high-touch surfaces may have a positive effect on the incidence rate of HAIs. Larger clinical trials will be needed to show an impact on mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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