Survival of Clostridium difficile on copper and steel: futuristic options for hospital hygiene.

This study evaluated survival of C. difficile vegetative cells and spores on surfaces commonly found in healthcare settings, stainless steel, compared to five copper alloys (65e100% copper content). C. difficile requires prolonged incubation to grow, therefore the total number and number of viable cells were estimated using a fluorescence dual-staining technique. The results suggest that using copper alloys in hospitals and other healthcare facilities could potentially reduce the spread of C. difficile from contaminated surfaces. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2008;68:145-51.