Scientists fight superbugs naturally with copper

Scientists fight superbugs naturally with copper


(NaturalNews) Contact with copper can prevent bacteria from exchanging
genetic material and even kill them, making it a potent resource in the
fight against the spread of drug-resistant superbugs, according to a
study conducted at the University of Southampton, England and published in the journal mBio.

Bacteria
possess an ability known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which
allows entirely unrelated species to exchange genetic material with each
other. Researchers say this ability is responsible for much of the
spread of antibiotic-resistant disease in recent decades.

The
researchers sought to determine whether HGT can take place outside the
human body, on settings such as door knobs, counter tops or hospital
trays. Because many frequently-touched surfaces in healthcare settings
are made of stainless steel, the researchers tested the survival of
multi-drug resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella
pneumoniae on stainless steel, copper and copper alloy surfaces.

"Whilst
studies have focused on HGT in vivo [in the body], this work
investigates whether the ability of pathogens to persist in the
environment, particularly on touch surfaces, may also play an important
role," lead author Bill Keevil said.

The researchers found that
while both species of drug-resistant bacteria were able to survive on
stainless steel surfaces for several weeks, they quickly died when
placed on copper or copper alloy surfaces. In addition, bacteria on the
copper and copper alloy surfaces suffered destruction of their DNA - presumably making both reproduction and HGT impossible.

"Break the chain of contamination"

The
findings support the conclusion that surfaces people touch play an
important role in disease transmission, the researchers said.

"We
know many human pathogens survive for long periods in the hospital
environment and can lead to infection, expensive treatment, blocked beds
and death," Keevil said. "What we have shown in this work is the
potential for strategically-placed antimicrobial copper touch surfaces
to not only break the chain of contamination, but also actively reduce
the risk of antibiotic resistance developing at the same time."

Copper surfaces are not a substitute for hand washing and other hygiene practices, he emphasized.

Keevil noted that copper might play an important epidemiological role outside of healthcare settings, as well.

"Copper
touch surfaces have promise for preventing antibiotic resistance
transfer in public buildings and mass transportation systems, which lead
to local and - in the case of jet travel - rapid worldwide
dissemination of multi-drug resistant superbugs as soon as they appear," he said.

"People
with inadequate hand hygiene could exchange their bugs and different
antibiotic resistance genes just by touching a stair rail or door
handle, ready to be picked up by someone else and passed on. Copper
substantially reduces and restricts the spread of these infections."

Copper and silver have both showed great promise as antibacterial agents, and are already being used in hospitals
across the United Kingdom. A 2011 study, for example found that the use
of copper surfaces in hospitals killed 97 percent of bacteria and
reduced infection rates by 40 percent.

Source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/038253_superbugs_copper_hospitals.html