Healthcare-acquired Infection Clinical Trial
Official title:
Copper Antimicrobial Research Program: Environmental and Patient Sampling For Indicator Organisms To Determine The Efficacy Of Copper To Reduce Acquisition Of Microbes From The Patient Care Environment
CONTEXT: Healthcare-acquired infections (HAI) cause substantial patient morbidity and
mortality. Commonly touched items in the patient care environment harbor microorganisms that
may contribute to HAI risk. Thus, reduction in the surface bioburden may be an effective
strategy to reduce HAI. Inherent biocidal capabilities of copper surfaces offer a
theoretical advantage to conventional cleaning, as disinfection is continuous rather than
episodic.
OBJECTIVE: Determine whether placement of copper-alloy surfaced objects in an intensive care
unit (ICU) reduce risk of HAI.
DESIGN: An intention to treat study where patients are sequentially placed into rooms with
or without copper-alloy surfaced objects.
SETTING: The ICUs of three hospitals, a tertiary academic hospital, an academic cancer
center, and a Veteran's Administration Medical Center.
PATIENTS: Any patient 18 years of age or older who required admission to an ICU at a study
hospital is eligible for placement into a study room if available.
INTERVENTION: Placement of copper-alloy surfaced objects in an ICU room. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURE: Rate of incident HAI and/or colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in each type of room.
n/a
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Prevention