Copper handles found to be best alternative to tackle pathogens

A clinic in Hamburg, Germany carried out an experiment which could have a huge implication on hospitals and other public places.

Since hospitals have one of the highest percentage of visitors daily. The door handles are handled thousands of times per day and the result is a transfer of bacteria from one person to another. The surface area of a door handle is quite large enough to suppport bacterial multiplication and even with regular cleaning, certain microbes can reproduce rapidly on them.

This has led the Asklepios Clinic Harbur in Hamburg to carry out a project to replace all their door handles with copper alternatives.

The result of this experiment was astonishing as it was discovered that Copper reduces microbes by 50% when compared to handles of stainless steel or other artificial materials.

But this comes with some disadvantages as it was observed that the copper handles gets discolored over time as a result of constant cleaning with surface disinfectants and also copper handles are said to be 50% more expensive than high quality stainless equivalents.

Though the clinic is said to be continuing its test using handles which are made of different copper alloys and they are not stopping there as they intend to transfer the idea to other things such as wheelchairs, electric door buttons, movable bed levers and cash machines since they are all contact points that could spread life threatening pathogens.

That will be a huge step for hospitals to take. Don't you think so?

Deutsche Welle