Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Acquired Infections

9:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the recent research findings concerning copper and its potential to prevent nosocomial infection within all health care facilities here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1157/10]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I am aware of developments in relation to the use of copper handles and plates for commonly touched surfaces in healthcare facilities and their possible role in the prevention and control of certain Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs). Indeed I met with representatives of an Irish based company early last year to discuss this issue with them.

I subsequently asked Professor Hilary Humphreys of the RCSI to carry out a scientific evaluation of such copper products and my Department is now in receipt of his report. While Prof. Humphreys notes the antimicrobial activity of copper products he states that it is unclear from the scientific literature the extent of the contribution such products would make in prevention and control of HCAIs in addition to those that are already recommended e.g. enhanced environment cleaning, improved professional practice and better facilities for patients. He also notes that of the new products or technologies that are currently being developed, many of these would have potential but their use and incorporation into a HCAI preventative strategy is hampered by lack of hard evidence as to their efficacy in actually reducing HCAI numbers.

Clinical trials undertaken in Birmingham on the role of copper in reducing hospital environment contamination, which reported in late 2009, found that "the use of copper-containing material for surfaces in the hospital environment may ...be a valuable adjunct for the prevention of HCAIs and requires further evaluation". I am advised that a trial that would determine the specific impact of copper products in addition to other control measures in reducing infections and not just reducing the amount of microbes on commonly touched surfaces in healthcare facilities, would be required in definitively deciding the role and value of copper products for this purpose. In addition there is no cost benefit analysis on such products vis-a-vis what is currently used in healthcare facilities; this is a particular concern in the current financial climate. The potential of this new technology as an adjunct to the infection prevention and control measures already in use in hospital settings is noted and I will keep developments in this area under review.

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