Nanako Niiyama, Takeshi Sasahara, Hiroshi Mase, Michiko Abe, Haruo Saito, Kensei Katsuoka
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-1472

Metallic copper has been shown significantly to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination of the ambient surroundings of the beds of MRSA-carrying patients in dermatology wards. The aim of this study was to determine whether a bed sheet made of copper-coated film will reduce the spread of MRSA contamination in the environment of a heavily-colonized patient. The bacterial count was highest on the bed sheet. MRSA cell counts on the surface of the non-film-coated control sheet were high (6,600–11,000 colony forming units (cfu)), but those on the copper film were considerably lower (20–130 cfu). Use of metallic copper on the bed sheets of patients who are likely to be a source of MRSA contamination may help to prevent the spread of MRSA contamination in hospital wards.

Figure S1