SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Most moms (77%) think that schools are not “very clean” and a majority (53%) believe schools were the most likely source of their family’s colds and other infections last year.
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With school back in session, Moms favor two strategies to combat the problem, according to a survey* of adults last summer conducted for the makers of EPA-registered CuVerro® bactericidal copper.
Almost all (93%) say kids should wash their hands more often. A large majority (85%) also want school facility managers to consider changing the material they use for handles on toilets, doors and faucets.
Copper to the Rescue
The latter comes in response to the fact that copper has the inherent ability to kill bacteria. The metal that people associate with pennies, electrical wires, and water pipes kills 99.9% of bacteria** that come in contact with it.
On the other hand, stainless steel, the material most often used for door and faucet handles, has no antimicrobial properties. In fact, compared to copper, stainless steel surfaces can be virtual petri dishes of potentially infectious bacteria (see chart at right).
News of copper’s bactericidal properties is timely for US consumers, a majority of whom worry that the threats of infectious disease is growing. Copper can play a leading role in fighting bacteria* that cause potentially life-threatening infections.
New Study: Copper Kills Bacteria ... Continuously
Recent research from Grinnell College and the Medical University of South Carolina makes an even more compelling case for the use of antimicrobial copper. The study is the first to show that surfaces in unoccupied patient rooms quickly re-contaminate after terminal cleaning. But when surfaces in patient rooms are made of copper, bacterial loads do not rebound, regardless of occupancy.
The Grinnell findings confirm previous studies and, according Anthony M. Kulik, Director of the CuVerro Business for Olin Brass, provide additional support for the use of copper surfaces in hospitals and other environments where hygiene is a concern.
“Copper substantially reduces the amount of bacteria on surfaces,” he said. “Our network of manufacturers makes products that can fit into any location – from hospitals and schools to health clubs and other public spaces. We also have products for everyday use, like pens and cell phone cases. The possibilities are endless.”
About CuVerro®
CuVerro® is manufactured by GBC Metals, LLC, doing business as Olin Brass, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Brass and Copper, Inc. which is a subsidiary of Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc., the leading manufacturer and distributor of copper, copper-alloy and bactericidal copper sheet, strip, plate, foil, rod, ingot and fabricated components in North America and one of the largest in the world. GBC Metals engages in the melting, casting, rolling, drawing, extruding and stamping of specialized copper and copper alloys finished products from scrap, cathode and other refined metals. (OB-0040-1608)
*The national survey of 1,000 adults was commissioned by CuVerro, a unit of Olin Brass, and conducted by independent survey research firm Pulse Opinion Research, a licensee of Rasmussen Reports, on July 13-14, 2016. The margin of sampling error was +/- percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. The margins of error may differ for cross tab data.
**Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, CuVerro surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE).The use of CuVerro® bactericidal copper products is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. This surface has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination.
For more information visit cuverro.com or contact [email protected].
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