Antimicrobial copper alloys kill 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria

Copper alloys kill Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing nosocomial infections.
Based on the results of extensive efficacy testing conducted in 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered various antimicrobial copper alloys for sale with public health claims. When used as directed, copper alloy touch surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of disease causing bacteria* including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a superbug responsible for over 94,000 hospital-acquired infections each year.
Products made of MicroGuard antibacterial materials are the first registered products available for immediate sale. These materials and component hardware are approved for touch surfaces in hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and homes. Some of the EPA approved applications include:
Additional applications can be found at http://www.microguard.info/. Designed to replace stainless steel with the added benefit of killing infectious bacteria*, Copper alloys are both fingerprint and stain resistant. PMX Industries will be releasing additional products as market needs are identified.
Copper surfaces are not a substitute for good cleaning and disinfection practices, but may be an ideal supplement to a multi-faceted approach to reduce hospital-acquired infections. , Unlike antimicrobial coatings which cannot claim to kill infectious bacteria, the antimicrobial properties copper alloys will not wear away or be rubbed off. The antibacterial efficacy of MicroGuard remains effective for the life of the product."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that hospital-acquired infections affect 1.7 million people each year and cost over $20 billion. Over 99,000 people die annually from hospital-acquired infections. The most common hospital-acquired infection is MRSA, which has more than tripled since 2000. Copper alloy surfaces kill 99.9% of MRSA. Independent laboratory testing demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against *Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli 0157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Source: PMX Industries http://www.ipmx.com/.