Does Extreme Wettability Matter: The Effect of Copper Wettability on Infection Spread through Hospital Surfaces

Abstract

One of the reasons for the widespread occurrence of hospital-acquired infections is the ability of microorganisms to survive for extended periods on the indoor surfaces of healthcare facilities. Although the antibacterial properties of copper are well-known and have already been used in medical practice, there is still a lack of research on how extreme wettability of copper-based materials by biological fluids can affect the reduction of surface contamination and, consequently, the spread of hospital-acquired infections, particularly in healthcare settings. This study aims to compare the efficacy of superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic copper surfaces on high-touch facilities such as elevator buttons with smooth copper and stainless steel surfaces in preventing the transfer of infections through hospital surfaces. It was found that the wettability of frequently touched surfaces like elevator buttons matters for combating bacterial contamination. The total aerobic microbial counts, encompassing both pathogenic and nonpathogenic microbial contamination, were similar across smooth, superhydrophobic, and superhydrophilic copper coatings. At the same time, surfaces with extreme wettability exhibited a lower incidence of Staphylococcus aureus growth, no growth of Acinetobacter spp., and reduced maximum contamination levels for both pathogens and nonpathogenic bacteria. Superhydrophilic buttons treated with the quaternary ammonium compound miramistin showed a reduction in microbial growth during the initial 20 days. The study emphasizes the importance of surface wettability and texture in mitigating microbial contamination.