Dauvergne Emilie, Mullié Catherine
Laboratoire AGIR-UR UPJV 4294, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 80037 Amiens, France.
FAVI Limited Company, 80490 Hallencourt, France.
Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Mar 10;10(3):286. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10030286.
Copper has been used for its antimicrobial properties since Antiquity. Nowadays, touch surfaces made of copper-based alloys such as brasses are used in healthcare settings in an attempt to reduce the bioburden and limit environmental transmission of nosocomial pathogens. After a brief history of brass uses, the various mechanisms that are thought to be at the basis of brass antimicrobial action will be described. Evidence shows that direct contact with the surface as well as cupric and cuprous ions arising from brass surfaces are instrumental in the antimicrobial effectiveness. These copper ions can lead to oxidative stress, membrane alterations, protein malfunctions, and/or DNA damages. Laboratory studies back up a broad spectrum of activity of brass surfaces on bacteria with the possible exception of bacteria in their sporulated form. Various parameters influencing the antimicrobial activity such as relative humidity, temperature, wet/dry inoculation or wear have been identified, making it mandatory to standardize antibacterial testing. Field trials using brass and copper surfaces consistently report reductions in the bacterial bioburden but, evidence is still sparse as to a significant impact on hospital acquired infections. Further work is also needed to assess the long-term effects of chemical/physical wear on their antimicrobial effectiveness.
自古以来，铜就因其抗菌特性而被使用。如今，由铜基合金（如黄铜）制成的触摸表面被用于医疗保健环境，以试图减少生物负荷并限制医院病原体的环境传播。在简要介绍黄铜的使用历史后，将描述被认为是黄铜抗菌作用基础的各种机制。有证据表明，与表面的直接接触以及黄铜表面产生的铜离子和亚铜离子有助于抗菌效果。这些铜离子可导致氧化应激、膜改变、蛋白质功能异常和/或DNA损伤。实验室研究支持黄铜表面对细菌具有广泛的活性，但可能除了处于孢子形成形式的细菌外。已经确定了各种影响抗菌活性的参数，如相对湿度、温度、湿/干接种或磨损，这使得标准化抗菌测试成为必要。使用黄铜和铜表面的现场试验一致报告细菌生物负荷有所降低，但关于对医院获得性感染有重大影响的证据仍然很少。还需要进一步的工作来评估化学/物理磨损对其抗菌效果的长期影响。
