Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria
Published on: May 16, 2025
Copper continuously limits the concentration of bacteria resident on bed rails within the intensive care unit
Michael G Schmidt1, Hubert H Attaway Iii, Sarah E Fairey
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Abstract:
Cleaning is an effective way to lower the bacterial burden (BB) on surfaces and minimize the infection risk to patients. However, BB can quickly return. Copper, when used to surface hospital bed rails, was found to consistently limit surface BB before and after cleaning through its continuous antimicrobial activity.
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