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HEALTH AND SANITATION
Antimicrobial ( Part 2 )
I recently attended a seminar and was very surprised to learn that a national paint company has just formulated and released a paint that has antimicrobial properties in its mixture .
By Andy Camphausen
Andrew Camphausen
Andy has been in the building / plumbing industry for over 20 years . In the course of his six years in the Free State , he was nominated and served as vice-chair of IOPSA Free State . During his 12 years with the company , he served as a regional manager and now holds the position of national technical support manager at LIXIL Africa . Andy is very passionate about our country and believes it is our responsibility to ensure that the next generation of plumbers is adequately trained . He takes pride in working for a local manufacturer and believes that customer centricity is the key to success .
This new product will be particularly useful in hospitals , clinics , doctors ’ rooms , and waiting rooms , or any other health care situation where people touch surfaces .
To this end , there are a few questions with regard to copper and alloys , with answers on which to ponder :
Where does copper come from ? Copper is mined from ore , which is found naturally in the earth . South Africa only has a small portion of copper mining , but the bigger countries include Chile , China , Peru , US , and Australia .
Is copper recyclable ? When posing this question , I had to ask myself whether I would want to answer it . Copper is one of the few materials that can be recycled over and over without any loss in performance . It is reported that two-thirds of the copper produced since 1900 is still in use today .
What are copper alloys ? An alloy is created when a metal is mixed with one or more elements . Copper is mixed with zinc to attain brass . As zinc is a harder metal than copper , the integrity of a tap can be sustained using brass .
Copper and copper alloy touch surfaces have been installed in hospitals across the world .
Does copper have antimicrobial properties ? Yes . The human race has exploited the antimicrobial properties of copper since the dawn of civilisation . Copper has rapid , broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against some of the most toxic species of bacteria , fungi , and viruses .
Are the antimicrobial copper surfaces coated ?
• No , the antimicrobial property of copper is intrinsic to the metal . Copper never wears away or becomes depleted from the surface , unlike a coating .
• To maintain antimicrobial effectiveness , oils , waxes , glosses , paints , nickel-coloured coatings , or any other coating must NOT be applied .
Are copper plating and coating effective too ?
• While coatings and plating may initially display antimicrobial properties , they are susceptible to wear and tear , and scratched surfaces may harbour germs .
• Surfaces made from solid copper and copper alloys are genuinely antimicrobial .
How can copper improve patient safety in hospitals and clinics ? We have all heard the dreaded stories of people entering a hospital for some or other ailment , but when leaving the hospital or clinic , they have picked up some germ or virus found in the hospital . Antimicrobial copper alloy surfaces have been shown to reduce microbial contamination in-between routine cleaning and disinfection , making them a useful additional measure to improve hygiene .
Antimicrobial Touch Surfaces
How is copper currently used as an antimicrobial agent ?
• Copper is an active ingredient in many different types of antimicrobial products in agriculture , marine environments , health care , and the home . Copper is an active ingredient in anti-plaque mouthwashes and toothpastes .
• Copper scourers for pots and pans can help prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen .
• Recently , copper and copper alloy touch surfaces have also been installed in hospitals across the world .
January 2018 Volume 23 I Number 11 www . plumbingafrica . co . za