New Study Demonstrates the Efficacy of Copper-Impregnated Surfaces in Reducing Clostridioides difficile Spores

Research demonstrates the ability of copper-impregnated surfaces to kill both forms of the HAI-causing organism

TEMPLE, Texas, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A federally-funded study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology demonstrates the efficacy of copper-impregnated surface, EOS^CU, in significantly reducing Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile or C. diff) spores. C. diff spores can persist on healthcare surfaces for months and cause HAIs among hospitalized patients. This research, conducted at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System in Temple, TX, investigated EOS^CU, an American-made product manufactured by EOS Surfaces in Norfolk, Virginia.

"At EOS Surfaces, we have always placed science at the heart of everything we do, and partnering with the Veterans Administration on this project has been a true honor," says Ken Trinder, CEO of EOS Surfaces and inventor of EOS^CU.  "This collaboration not only underscores the importance of EOS^CU in advancing patient safety but also deepens our understanding of the science behind its effectiveness. We are proud to contribute to the health and safety of those who have served our country and remain committed to delivering solutions that make a measurable impact for patients nation-wide."

Key Findings:

• Copper-impregnated EOS^CU bedrail and table surfaces achieved a 97.3% and 96.8% reduction in C. difficile spores, respectively, after four hours of contact.
  
  
• Even in the presence of organic material, which can impede antimicrobial efficacy, EOS^CU surfaces showed over 91% spore reduction.
  
  
• The study highlights EOS^CU's continuous antimicrobial activity, addressing gaps in traditional cleaning methods that have been proven to be inadequate in eradicating C. difficile spores.

Why This Matters:
Healthcare-associated infections pose a major challenge to hospitals worldwide, increasing patient mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs. C. difficile spores, in particular, are highly resilient and capable of surviving on hospital surfaces for months and resisting many hospital-grade disinfectants. C. difficile infections (CDIs) are life-threatening and are the leading cause of HAIs among hospitalized patients.

This study underscores how to overcome some of the limitations of current decontamination methods, such as chemical disinfectants and "no-touch"  technologies, which are episodic and do not provide continuous disinfection like EOS^CU.

Applications and Future Research:
The study provides compelling evidence for integrating copper-impregnated EOS^CU into high-touch patient areas, such as bedrails and overbed tables, in healthcare facilities. The research team also highlighted the need for further exploration into the long-term impact of copper-impregnated surfaces on infection rates and their cost-effectiveness as part of infection control strategies.

What Experts Say:

"A major problem with standard practice for prevention of C.difficile infection is the reliance on daily or terminal disinfection protocols. The spread of C.difficele spores however can be direct contact or aerosolization of spores (e.g. by toilet flushing) and thereby potentially spread to a broad area thereby not influenced by the standard disinfection protocols, with the related infection risks. Although the treatment of C.difficele infection and disinfection has shown considerable progress in risk reduction, these approaches remain unfortunately inadequate, given the scope and consequences of infection. This copper technology is the first of a kind targeting hard surface area exposures, to replace a reactive with a proactive and extremely effective approach. The clinical implications and values are potentially limitless both for patient outcomes as well as overall healthcare system cost savings.  Notably, this was a study funded by the National Institute of Health, further highlighting the high-level scientific interest and support of this exciting technology." Internationally-known gastroenterologist, Dr. David A Johnson MD MACG FASGE MVGS MACP, Professor of Medicine/Chief of Gastroenterology, Eastern VA Medical School/Old Dominion University (Not associated with the study.)

About the Study:
The research, titled "Efficacy of Copper-Impregnated Antimicrobial Surfaces Against Clostridioides difficile Spores," was conducted by the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System's Temple, TX. The full article is available through Cambridge University Press at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39703079/.

About EOS^CU:

EOS^CU is manufactured in the United States using a patented process to incorporate varying levels of Cu into different preventive biocidal polymer matrixes. EOS^CU is available in traditional design and build materials such as horizontal solid surfaces and bowls, and other resin-based products such as hospital bed rails, grab bars, and other high touch surfaces. EOS^CU is based and manufactured in Norfolk VA.

Media Contact:
Erica Mitchell
EOS Surfaces
[email protected] 
800-719-3671

SOURCE EOS Surfaces, LLC