“It can cost between 4,000 GBP and 10,000 GBP to treat a patient with an infection.”

Department of Health (2008). Clean, Safe Care – Reducing Infections and Saving Lives.

Case Studies

Antimicrobial Copper has been successfully utilised in healthcare facilities throughout the world as a means to kill pathogenic microbes on frequently-touched surfaces, thus reducing the risk of transmission of infection.

All case studies listed alphabetically.

View the healthcare installations case study collection.

Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, GreeceAntimicrobial copper touch surfaces were installed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital in Greece to assess the reduction in contamination that could achieved.

AKH Hagen, GermanyAs part of its general refurbishment measures, Hagen General Hospital (AKH Hagen) elected to equip its children’s intensive care ward with antimicrobial copper touch surfaces to help lower the risk of healthcare-associated infections. The decision was taken as part of the hospital’s ‘multi-dimensional approach to hygiene.’

Arsakion School, GreeceArsakion School is among the oldest and most prestigious private schools in Greece. From various sites in Athens, it educates over 12,000 students. After the school’s management were approached by the Hellenic Copper Development Institute and its scientific team about the antimicrobial properties of copper, they opted to install antimicrobial copper touch surfaces at three of its schools.

Attikon Hospital, GreeceAttikon Hospital provides general hospital and community services to the western part of Athens. Dr Armaganidis, Head of the Intensive Care Unit, became interested in antimicrobial copper and its potential for reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections after speaking to the Hellenic Copper Development Institute and its scientific team, and opted to install a variety of touch surfaces to augment the hospital’s existing infection prevention practices.

Centre Hospitalier de Rambouillet, FranceThe Centre Hospitalier de Rambouillet, in the Parisian region, is the first hospital in France to install antimicrobial copper touch surfaces to fight pathogens and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) for its patients.

Centre Inter Générationnel Multi Accueil (CIGMA), FranceThe Centre Inter Générationnel Multi Accueil (CIGMA) in Laval, France - opened in early 2011 - consists of a nursery for 35 infants and a 60-bed care home for dependent elderly people, and is equipped throughout with copper handrails and door handles. These surfaces are constantly touched by the residents, children and care staff, and are therefore potential hotspots for the spread of germs and illnesses. With normal cleaning, the antimicrobial copper surfaces will kill viruses, bacteria and funghi that could otherwise remain on the surfaces, thus contributing to a healthier environment for all.

Craigavon Area Hospital, Northern IrelandNew multi-million pound trauma and orthopaedic facility at Craigavon Area Hospital features copper ironmongery for a healthy and healing environment.

Evangelisches Geriatriezentrum (EGZB), GermanyEvangelisches Geriatriezentrum Berlin (EGZB) is Germany’s largest geriatric facility, with around 200 beds, and elected to specify antimicrobial copper door furniture throughout to augment its infection prevention procedures. The touch surfaces rapidly and completely kill bacteria and viruses that settle on them, reducing the risk of infections being passed between patients, staff and visitors.

The Embrace, Athens, GreeceAt The Embrace – a non-profit facility in Athens, Greece that supports and cares for pregnant women in difficult circumstances – providing a safe and comfortable environment for women and their new babies is of paramount importance. Hygiene and infection prevention are at the forefront of their service, and antimicrobial copper touch surfaces were chosen to augment existing sanitation procedures.

Homerton Hospital, London, UKDuring the renovation of a specialist Adult Rehabilitation Unit at the hospital, Antimicrobial Copper door furniture was installed throughout. The products chosen were from Allgood's Contego range of Antimicrobial Copper door furniture, made from an alloy with a silver appearance, visually indistinguishable from stainless steel, providing an unobtrusive additional infection prevention measure.

Hua Dong Hospital, ChinaIn summer 2012, the Respiratory Intensive Care Floor was fitted with an extensive range of Antimicrobial Copper touch surfaces to protect the health of vulnerable patients, and help prevent the spread of infection between them and healthcare workers.

The Kohitsuji Child Center, Mitaka, Tokyo, JapanThe Kohitsuji Child Center in Mitaka, Tokyo – completed in February 2011 – installed brass door furniture and handrails throughout to help limit the spread of infectious diseases amongst its children.

Japan Institute of Medical Materials Distribution ResearchAt the offices of the Japan Institute of Medical Materials Distribution Research, antimicrobial copper items have been installed to help prevent the spread of germs between employees and visitors with the goal of achieving a healthier office environment.

J.W. Venema Dental PracticeSplashes resulting from the use of high-speed rotating instruments used for dental treatments have been identified as a potential source of cross-contamination between patients. The formation of microbial aerosols enables particles to spread onto surrounding surfaces where germs can survive for days, even months. Whilst good hand hygiene and regular surface cleaning are key to combatting infection, more can be done, and a dental practice in the Netherlands is showcasing a new solution.

The Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USAMUSC, a world-class medical centre and educational institution, is involved in the US clinical trials assessing Antimicrobial Copper’s clinical efficacy. Antimicrobial Copper touch surfaces have been installed in the 21-bed Intensive Care Unit. Installed surfaces include: nurses’ call devices, monitor bezels, bedrails, and more.

Medicare Hospital, Mumbai, IndiaMedicare Hospital in Mumbai was the first hospital in India to install antimicrobial copper touch surfaces. The decision was made during construction of a new intensive care unit in 2012, when the multidisciplinary hospital’s administrators were looking for ways to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Mehiläinen Medical Facility, Pori, FinlandMehiläinen is a newly-renovated medical facility in Pori, Finland that has been one of the first healthcare centres in the country to capitalise on the antimicrobial properties of copper.

Mejiro Daycare Center for Children, JapanWith influenza outbreaks on the rise, the spread of infectious diseases is a growing concern for educational institutions, and one Tokyo daycare centre is leading the way in infection prevention with antimicrobial copper.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USAThis hospital is one of the premier cancer centres in the world and is one of three hospitals involved in US clinical trials assessing Antimicrobial Copper’s clinical efficacy.

Ochiai Clinic, JapanIn Japan, the Ochiai Clinic for fever patients has undergone an Antimicrobial Copper fit-out including brass wall and worktop cladding and door furniture. Ken Takahashi, the avant garde architect-designer, combined art with science in his design concept - exploiting the inherent bug-killing properties of a warm, golden copper alloy.

The Ralph H Johnson Veterans Medical Center, USAThe Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Medical Center is a primary, secondary and tertiary care facility that serves more than 40,000 US army veterans annually. The healthcare centre conducts investigations that will improve the health care of veterans. It is one of three hospitals involved in the US pilot programme to assess Antimicrobial Copper’s efficacy in a clinical environment. Antimicrobial Copper touch surfaces have been installed in the 6-bed Intensive Care Unit. Installed surfaces include: nurses’ call devices, bedrails, and more.

Roberto del Rio Children's Hospital, ChileRoberto del Rio Children’s Hospital – the oldest paediatric facility in Chile - installed antimicrobial copper surfaces in its intensive care and treatment rooms to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Ronald McDonald House of Charleston, USARonald McDonald – a well-known, global brand – is also renowned for its housing charity, working in communities to offer aid to families in need. The charity's Charleston House has elected to retrofit many touch surfaces and hardware with antimicrobial copper items in the hopes of providing a safer living and working environment for guests and employees.

Santiago Bueras Station, ChileInfectious diseases are spread through person-to-person contact—more frequently through the hands than by any other method. While handwashing is the best line of defence against infection, it can be challenging to manage in public places. When it became apparent that the Santiago transportation system required additional subway stations, the Chilean government searched for designs that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and easy to manoeuvre for users. Codelco, the Chilean state copper producer, knew that copper presented the best option.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UKA state-of-the-art centre being constructed at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital is due to set the gold standard for infection prevention with Antimicrobial Copper door furniture specified throughout in a bid to reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections in particularly vulnerable patients.

St Francis Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, IrelandThis 140-bed facility, along with its associated nursing home, St. Clair’s, embraced the latest science for supplementing hygienic practices, Antimicrobial Copper. Antimicrobial Copper door handles were installed throughout both facilities in a bid to reduce bacterial contamination on these frequently-touched surfaces.

Tokuda Hospital, Sofia, BulgariaTokuda Hospital Sofia – a thousand-bed facility in Bulgaria and part of a major private healthcare chain – installed antimicrobial copper touch surfaces to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Trafford General Hospital, UKTrafford General Hospital has the distinction of being the place where the NHS was founded in 1948, and a new unit has offered them the chance to harness the inherent antimicrobial properties of copper to help reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections and improve patient outcomes.

UHB Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UKSelly Oak Hospital is part of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, and is the site of the UK pilot programme to assess Antimicrobial Copper’s efficacy in a clinical environment. Antimicrobial Copper surfaces have been installed in a general medical ward. Installed surfaces include: door handles, push plates, sink taps, grab rails, dressing trolleys, over-bed tables, and more.

University Medical Center Groningen, NetherlandsOpened in November 2010, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) Hospital's Cancer Center in Groningen, the Netherlands, has been fitted throughout with door handles made from bronze - an alloy of copper benefitting from its antimicrobial properties. It was the very first Dutch facility to have implemented antimicrobial copper, leading the way in infection prevention.

West-Finland Deaconesses' Institution Veterans' Nursing Home and Rehabilitation InstitutionThis 85-bed facility is a nursing home and rehabilitation centre which delivers multi-professional, high-quality care, rehabilitation and counselling services for military veterans and other geriatric patients. It is the site of a trial to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial copper surfaces in a Scandinavian clinical environment. Copper surfaces installed included door handles, grab rails, serving trolleys, handrails, switches and shower drain covers.

Willmott Dixon Healthcare Campus of the Future, UKThe Community Healthcare Campus is a healthcare facility showcase that demonstrates how key elements of design and construction, such as Antimicrobial Copper, can help create a better, safer environment for clinicians and patients as well as contributing towards sustainable construction.

WSSK Hospital, Wroclaw, PolandFollowing a growing number of hospitals around the world, WSSK Hospital, located in Wroclaw, south-west Poland, has implemented antimicrobial copper surfaces in its Nephrology Ward. The aim is to use the antimicrobial properties of copper in order to reduce the number of bacteria contaminating the most frequently-touched surfaces - such as door handles, bed rails and call buttons - that can cause serious infections amongst patients.

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