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Note: Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper alloys kill greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli O157:H7. Public health claims are only permitted against the five above bacteria. Antimicrobial copper alloy surfaces are a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices and have been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but do not necessarily prevent cross contamination; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices.

 

Disclaimer: As of now "Germ Smart" Patches are positioning to be marketed with public health claims based on the EPA registration of antimicrobial copper alloys.


2006 Press Release

  • Study Shows Copper Surfaces Eliminate MRSA
    Scientists at the University of Southampton in the U.K. have found that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cannot survive on pure copper surfaces for more than 45 minutes. MRSA is an infectious bacterium that responds to only the strongest antibiotics and is a cause of often-fatal hospital infections in both the U.K. and the United States. The study, published in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Hospital Infection, assesses the ability of copper and brass to eradicate strains of MRSA compared with that of stainless steel, which is commonly used for work and touch surfaces in healthcare facilities

Congressional Funds Awarded for Testing of Antimicrobial Copper Metals

November 15, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U .S. Dept. of Defense Continues Study of Copper as Effective Means of Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infections and Improving Indoor Air Quality

NEW YORK —  Congressionally appropriated funds to continue clinical trails determining the antimicrobial effectiveness of copper, brass and bronze have been awarded to the Copper Development Association, announced CDA President Andrew G. Kireta Sr. 

Of the two studies funded by these appropriations, one is focused on the ability of copper alloy surfaces to kill deadly pathogens and impede cross-contamination. The monies will be used to complete the pilot conversion of touch surfaces in healthcare facilities in New York City and Charleston, South Carolina, where extensive clinical trials have begun.

The other, which follows the same premise, is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of copper components in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in reducing the incidence of harmful microbes that spread throughout buildings and other indoor air environments.

Since these studies began, the increasing concern over microbial growth on common touch surfaces has moved beyond healthcare facilities and into the community. In fact, recent cases have been diagnosed in students at many schools across the country.

According to Dr. Harold Michels, vice president of Technical and Information Services for CDA and the studies’ principal investigator, “This decision allows the trials to move into the next, critical phase of study. We fully expect our work will demonstrate that the utilization of antimicrobial copper alloy surfaces will be an effective weapon in the battle against hospital- and community-acquired infections and, when used in conjunction with good clinical hygiene, will help greatly to reduce the spread of certain virulent, antibiotic-resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli O157:H7.”  

The clinical trials follow peer-reviewed research conducted at the University of Southampton in the U.K. proving copper, brass and bronze can quickly and efficiently eradicate several different pathogens which are the source of many hospital-acquired infections. Estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that infections acquired in U.S. hospitals affect some two million individuals every year, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths annually and costing the healthcare industry some $30 billion. It is widely believed those numbers will grow, unless more effective measures are implemented.

The touch surfaces trials will determine how well natural copper, brass and bronze surfaces mitigate infectious microbes, decrease cross-contamination and ultimately help reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in patients. Rates of infection are being measured using three indicator organisms: MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and Acinetobacter baumannii. The surfaces involved in the study are typically made of coated carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel or plastic, which have little or no effect in controlling pathogens.

The studies are being conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medial Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina. Previous studies were conducted by ATS Labs in Eagan, Minnesota, under test protocols established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They show solid copper alloys are more than 99.9% effective on five pathogens commonly found in healthcare facilities. The tests have been submitted to EPA as part of a registration process to secure approval for making human health claims for the copper metals.

The companion study compares copper air-conditioning system components, including heat exchangers and drip pans, with components made of aluminum as to their ability to control the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. The trials are designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of copper surfaces in reducing the colonization of HVAC systems by harmful microbes and reducing exposure to these organisms throughout the buildings served by the systems.

Laboratory studies are taking place at the University of South Carolina in the Arnold School of Public Health. Field trials will be performed at the Moncrief Army Community Hospital and barracks at Fort Jackson, the D.D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon and the United States Air Force Academy. Michels says, “The results of these real-world trials should encourage a leap forward in the design of HVAC systems and make a major contribution to the reduction of Sick Building Syndrome and the improvement of indoor air quality.” 

###


First Results From Hospital Trials Show Pathogens Stay Close To Patients

October 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK—Preliminary results from U.S. Department of Defense-funded clinical trials indicate that commonly touched surfaces in intensive care unit rooms are contaminated with high levels of potentially dangerous bacteria. The findings, reported in a poster session at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, October 28, show that objects in closest proximity to patients, such as bed rails, call buttons and chairs have the highest levels of staphylococcus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE).  This suggests that touch surfaces in ICU rooms serve as reservoirs that could transfer bacteria to patients, healthcare workers and visitors. 

The trials are comparing the bioload found on stainless steel, plastic and aluminum objects in intensive care units with the amount found on the same objects made of antimicrobial copper alloys, such as brass and bronze, in order to determine if copper alloys can lessen cross contamination, and perhaps lower rates of infection.

Independent laboratory studies, submitted by the Copper Development Association to the Environmental Protection Agency, have shown that copper, brass and bronze are more than 99.9 percent effective in killing pathogens, such as MRSA, which are commonly found in hospitals. In response to these findings, the EPA. has registered copper, brass and bronze as antimicrobial materials, allowing public health claims to be made about them.

A clinical trial similar to those being funded by the Department of Defense is underway at Selly Oak Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham in the U.K. Results from this trial, also presented at ICAAC, show a 90-95 percent reduction in contamination on copper alloy surfaces compared to the controls.

The U.S. studies are being conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medial Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina. They are being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense under the aegis of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technologies Research Center (TATRC), a section of the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

###

The Copper Development Association is the information, education, market and technical development arm of the copper, brass and bronze industries in the USA.


U.S. EPA Approves Registration of Antimicrobial Copper Alloys

March 25, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Copper, brass and bronze kill pathogens—including “superbug” MRSA—responsible for hospital- and community-acquired infections.

NEW YORK—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the registration of antimicrobial copper alloys, with public health claims. These public health claims acknowledge that copper, brass and bronze are capable of killing harmful, potentially deadly bacteria. Copper is the first solid surface material to receive this type of EPA registration, which is supported by extensive antimicrobial efficacy testing.

The EPA registration is based on independent laboratory testing using EPA-prescribed protocols that demonstrate the metals' ability to kill specific disease-causing bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is one of the most virulent strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a common cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections.

Testing under EPA-approved protocols demonstrates that copper, brasses and bronzes are effective against a number of disease-causing bacteria. For example, one study shows that on copper alloy surfaces, greater than 99.9% of MRSA "superbugs" are killed within two hours at room temperature.

The following statements are included in the registration: "When cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper alloys surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of (specific) bacteria within two hours, and continue to kill more than 99% of (these) bacteria even after repeated contamination," and "The use of a copper alloy surface is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. The copper alloy surface material has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination."

Widely publicized statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate infections acquired in U.S. hospitals affect two million individuals every year and result in nearly 100,000 deaths annually. The use of copper alloys for frequently touched surfaces, as a supplement to existing CDC-prescribed hand-washing and disinfection regimens, has far-reaching implications. Potential uses, that include door and furniture hardware, bed rails, intravenous (IV) stands, dispensers, faucets, sinks and work stations, can help reduce the amount of disease-causing bacteria in patient rooms.

Unlike coatings or other materials treatments, the antibacterial efficacy of copper metals won't wear away: they can offer solid, long-term protection. Discussions are ongoing with major hospital equipment manufacturers about the development of appropriate copper-based products. For additional information about antimicrobial copper, please visit www.copper.org.

###

The Copper Development Association is the information, education, market and technical development arm of the copper, brass and bronze industries in the USA


International Copper Industry Defines Role In the Fight Against Hospital Infections

January 5, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY—The copper industry is working together to answer one very important question: Can copper and copper alloys (brass and bronze) help curb the spread of bacteria that cause hospital infection? Results of laboratory testing and clinical trials indicate that they can. Scientists from around the world shared their work at the first world congress, ‘Copper and Public Health’, on copper’s role in fighting the bacteria that cause hospital-acquired infections. The conference was held in Athens, Greece in November.

Leading scientists from the U.K., U.S., Germany and Greece, representing the disciplines of infection control, pathology, microbiology, hospital design, metallurgy and engineering, presented the scientific evidence supporting the case for incorporating copper surfaces into healthcare environments to help reduce the risk of infection and to protect public health. The first results from a clinical trial in Birmingham, England, demonstrate that the use of copper on certain surfaces on a busy hospital ward resulted in 90-100 percent fewer micro-organisms than the amount found on the control ward.

In the U.S., hospital-acquired infections claim the lives of some 100,000 people each year. The U.S. Copper Development Association (CDA) is taking a lead role in this international effort through two main initiatives: EPA registration of copper and copper alloys as antimicrobial and the initiation of clinical trials in three U.S. hospitals.

The EPA registration was granted based on independent laboratory tests demonstrating that copper, brass and bronze are more than 99.9 percent effective in killing specific disease-causing bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most virulent strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a common cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections. 

The clinical trials are comparing the amount of bacteria found on stainless steel, plastic and aluminum objects in intensive care units with the amount found on the same objects made of antimicrobial copper alloys, such as brass and bronze, in order to determine if copper alloys can lessen cross contamination, and perhaps lower rates of infection. The trials are funded by the U.S. Department of Defense under the aegis of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technologies Research Center (TATRC), a section of the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

###

The Copper Development Association is the information, education, market and technical development arm of the copper, brass and bronze industries in the USA.


Proper Use and Care of Antimicrobial Copper Alloy Products

The use of antimicrobial copper alloys (such as brass and bronze) does not replace standard infection control procedures and good hygienic practices. Antimicrobial copper alloy surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized according to standard practice. Healthcare facilities must maintain the product in accordance with infection control guidelines; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to
disinfection of environmental surfaces.


Copper alloy surfaces may be subject to recontamination and the level of active bacteria at any particular time will depend on the frequency and timing of recontamination and cleanliness of the surface (among other factors). In order for the copper alloy surface to have proper antimicrobial effect, the product must be cleaned and maintained according to the directions found on the product's label.

Copper alloy surfaces must not be waxed, painted, lacquered, varnished, or otherwise coated.

Routine cleaning to remove dirt and filth is necessary for good sanitation and to assure the effective antibacterial performance of the antimicrobial copper alloy surface. Cleaning agents typically used for traditional touching surfaces are permissible; the appropriate cleaning agent depends on the type of soiling and the measure of sanitization required. Normal tarnishing or wear of Antimicrobial Copper Alloy surfaces will not impair the antibacterial effectiveness of the product.

These products are not approved for use in any form that has direct food contact or as food packaging.

Antimicrobial Copper Alloys may be used in hospitals, other healthcare facilities, and various public, commercial, and residential buildings for approved non-food contact surfaces. Surfaces that may be exposed to outdoor environmental conditions (e.g. handrails, shopping carts, and ATM machines) are not representative of indoor laboratory test conditions, and therefore, may impart reduced efficacy if not cleaned when visibly soiled.


Registered Products


Door Handles


275 UNS registered copper alloys (such as brass and bronze) have been approved by the EPA to be marketed as antimicrobial materials. These contain a minimum of 65% copper by weight (nominally). The alloys are grouped into five categories according to their copper content.

Registered alloy manufacturers will sell copper and copper alloy sheet, strip, plate, rod, bar, ingot, tube, and other forms that will be converted to articles such as door knobs, door handles, hand rails, intravenous poles, countertops and various other products found in commercial, residential, and healthcare settings. The materials offer a wide range of mechanical and aesthetic properties and can be readily formed.

  • View list of approved Antimicrobial products
  • View the chemistry or other properties of an alloy
Copper Content Group Definitions (% Copper)
Group I Alloys 95.2 to 99.99
Group II Alloys 87.3 to 95.0
Group III Alloys 78.1 to 87.09
Group IV Alloys 68.2 to 77.5
Group V Alloys 65.0 to 67.8

EPA Registration Numbers

Alloy Group EPA Registration Number Date Issued
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys Group I 82012-1 February 29, 2008
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys Group II 82012-2 February 29, 2008
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys Group III 82012-3 February 29, 2008
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys Group IV 82012-4 February 29, 2008
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys Group V 82012-5 February 29, 2008

Public Health Claims

The following public health claims can be made about the use of properly registered antimicrobial copper alloy products.

Laboratory testing has shown that when cleaned regularly:

[Antimicrobial Copper Alloys continuously reduce bacterial* contamination, achieving 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure.]

[Antimicrobial Copper Alloys surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria* within two hours of exposure.]

[Antimicrobial Copper Alloys surfaces deliver continuous and ongoing antibacterial* action, remaining effective in killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours, even after repeated wet and dry abrasion and re-contamination.]

[When cleaned regularly, Antimicrobial Copper Alloys surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours, and continue to kill more than 99% of bacteria* even after repeated contamination.]

[Antimicrobial Copper Alloys surfaces help inhibit the buildup and growth of bacteria* within two hours of exposure between routine cleaning and sanitizing steps.]

*Testing demonstrates effective antibacterial activity against:
Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus,
Staphylococcus aureus,
Enterobacter aerogenes,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
and E. coli
O157:H7.

The EPA requires the following statement to be included when making public health claims related to the use of Antimicrobial Copper Alloys:

The use of a Copper Alloy surface is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. The Copper Alloy surface material


Antimicrobial Property of Copper

Bacteria in petri dish

In order to obtain a more complete understanding of the antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloys, a list of historic uses of copper is provided along with detailed descriptions of the efficacy of copper against the five registered bacteria:

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Enterobacter aerogenes
  • Escherichia coli O157:H7
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Testing

CDA coordinated with the U.S. EPA to develop test protocols to establish that antimicrobial copper alloys are effective. Testing was performed according to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards. GLP helps assure regulatory authorities that the data submitted are a true reflection of the results obtained during the study and can therefore be relied upon when making risk/safety assessments . Three protocols were established to test the following:

  • "Efficacy as a sanitizer*" – Kills greater than 99.9% of specified bacteria within two hours
  • "Residual self-sanitizing* activity" – Surface kills greater than 99.9% of specified bacteria within two hours even after repeated wet and dry abrasion cycles (simulated cleaning)
  • "Continual reduction of bacterial contaminants": Kills greater than 99% of specified bacteria even after repeated recontaminations without cleaning for 24 hours.
* The "sanitizer"/"sanitizing" references correspond to the name of the test protocol and are NOT intended to claim or imply efficacy for copper alloys as a sanitizer. Copper alloys do not meet the EPA performance standard required for "sanitizers

s

Tarnishing

The natural tarnishing of copper alloy surfaces is often discussed as it is familiar to all who have experience with copper surfaces. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was exposed to several copper alloys in a tarnished and untarnished state to determine whether tarnishing has an impact on the antimicrobial property of copper. The results indicated that tarnished antimicrobial copper alloys still kill greater than 99.9% of the five tested bacteria within two hours. This dispels the notion that the natural tarnishing of antimicrobial copper alloys will inhibit their ability to kill bacteria.


Copper jugs and bowls

What the Egyptians and the Aztecs knew about the antimicrobial properties of copper

Man exploited the antimicrobial attributes of copper long before the nineteenth century, when Louis Pasteur developed the germ theory of disease which states that infections are caused by microbes invading the human body.

Historic Antimicrobial Uses of Copper
Typical brass mutka from
rural Rajasthan, India

Copper and its alloys (brasses, bronzes, copper nickels, copper nickel zincs, and others) are inherently antimicrobial materials. Man exploited the antimicrobial attributes of copper long before the nineteenth century, when Louis Pasteur developed the germ theory of disease which states that infections are caused by microbes invading the human body. Egyptians used copper drinking vessels to sterilize water. The Hippocrates Collection, 460 to 380 B.C., to which the father of medicine contributed, recommends the use of copper for leg ulcers related to varicose veins. Pliny, 23 to 79 A.D., used copper oxide with honey to treat intestinal worms. The Aztecs gargled with a mixture containing copper to treat sore throats.

In light of this history, modern researchers began exploring the antimicrobial properties of copper in a variety of settings.  A recent study compared bacteria levels in water stored in brass (a copper alloy) vessels traditionally used in rural India to the water stored in earthenware vessels. In a 1983 study, bacteria levels were examined on brass and stainless steel doorknobs in a hospital.  The results of these studies led researchers to initiate controlled studies using EPA-approved test protocols to qualify scientifically the antimicrobial properties of copper.


Harmful Germs May Lurk in Your Car
 
These days lots of people are pretty much living out of their car. They use it for a dressing room, dining room and of course an office .I bet they never stopped to think about all the harmful germs that could be living along with them. A car is the perfect place for germs to breed, especially if it’s left sitting in the hot sun for a few hours. Take a look at your car, if you have kids I can almost guarantee they eat in the back seat ,and maybe even drop or spill their food. Now you might pick up the food and clean up the spills, but are there still crumbs left that you meant to vacuum when you had the time. Just the time never came and now the crumbs have turned into harmful germs Every person that gets in your car has germs on them and leaves them behind when they get out. Do you always have a cup of coffee something to drink in the cup holder? How many times had your drink spilled over and you did your best to clean it up with a few napkins? The places in the car that have the most germs are the dashboard, the change holder, and the cup holders. The air flowing over the dashboard causes the germs to grow and breed.

A child’s car seat is the perfect place for germs to grow. They eat in their chair and drop crumbs or have food on their hands and wipe it on the cloth. Steering wheels have been known to contain more germs then a toilet seat. Think about the floor carpets in your car, your feet are on all types of different germ ridden surfaces and then you and your guest transport them into your car. Some of the germs that can be found in cars are very dangerous, they can cause skin infection  and other serious conditions.

To keep your car free of germs it needs to be disinfected on a regular basis. If you use your car daily and have the kids in there a lot ,it needs to be cleaned once a week. Start by having the car detailed on the inside .You can do this yourself or take it to a car wash that offers the service. You'll want the carpets and seats to be vacuumed and shampooed. Have the entire inside of the car wiped down with a disinfectant cleaner. Make sure to have the dashboard and steering wheel wiped off ,to remove any germs that might be present.

Lifting the lid on computer filth
computer keyboard
Flu germs can be transferred
Office workers are exposed to more germs from their phones and keyboards than toilet seats, scientists reveal.

Work stations contain nearly 400 times as many microbes than lavatories, it is claimed.

Office equipment should be regularly disinfected to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria responsible for disease.

The reality of our grubby working environments is exposed in a study by the University of Arizona.

A desk is capable of supporting 10 million microbes and the average office contains 20,961 microbes per square inch, according to research.

Desks are really bacteria cafeterias
Charles Gerba, microbiologist
The key offenders are telephones, which harbour up to 25,127 microbes per square inch, keyboards 3,295 and computer mice 1,676.

By contrast, the average toilet seat contains 49 microbes per square inch, the survey showed.

Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba, of the University of Arizona, who carried out the research, said: "When someone is infected with a cold or flu bug the surfaces they touch during the day become germ transfer points because some cold and flu viruses can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours.

"An office can become an incubator."

Dr Gerba's study found bacteria levels increased drastically during the day, peaking after lunch.

The superhighways for bacteria are hands and the surfaces we touch
Professor Sally Bloomfield, microbiologist
Food spills, such as tea and biscuits, can support mini eco-systems, but cleaning of keyboards and phones is not always given high priority.

Dr Gerba said: "Without cleaning, a small area on your desk of phone can sustain millions of bacteria that could potentially cause illness."

The study found that where office workers who were told to clean their desks with disinfecting wipes, bacterial levels were reduced by 99%.

British microbiologist Professor Sally Bloomfield said the study reinforced the need for good hygiene practice both at work and in the home.

She said: "The superhighways for bacteria are hands and the surfaces we touch.

"Viruses are transferred by our hands, especially cold viruses."

She said it was impossible to turn our surroundings into sterile zones, but we can minimise the risk by washing our hands regularly and using alcoholic wipes on office furniture like phones and keyboards.



March 16, 2009 - Page updated at 11:06 a.m.
A Seattle Times Investigation

Culture of resistance

The drug-resistant germ MRSA lurks in Washington hospitals, carried by patients and staff and fueled by inconsistent infection control. This stubborn germ is spreading at an alarming rate, but no one has tracked these cases — until now.

Part 1

How our hospitals unleashed an epidemic


MRSA has been quietly killing in hospitals for decades. The Seattle Times analyzed millions of records to track the swath of one of the nation's most widespread — and preventable — epidemics.

 

MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The burn team uses MRSA contact precautions as it tends to a patient in isolation at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Slideshow: One woman's struggle

MRSA skyrockets in Washington

Q&A: How to protect yourself

Search our database: MRSA in Washington

Part 2

After deadly outbreaks, hospital slow to change


Harborview Medical Center's struggles tell the story of MRSA: the history of outbreaks, the mounting casualties, the resistance to change. Four decades after its patients began dying of MRSA, Harborview still uses measures that may place patients at risk.

MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Norman Hurst, who had suffered devastating burns in a traffic accident, was Harborview's "patient No. 1" of a deadly MRSA breakout that would take 15 months to stamp out.

Part 3

MRSA: Patients revolt against hospital secrecy


Consumers have demanded more aggressive steps to control infections like MRSA. But in Washington, MRSA rates remain hidden and state initiatives to combat the drug-resistant germ have come up short.

MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

MRSA survivor Jeanine Thomas has become one of the nation's most influential patient advocates for hospital transparency.

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About this series

For this project, The Seattle Times confronted a big hurdle: If the state and federal governments don't bother to count MRSA cases, how could we do it ourselves


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/

A Seattle Times Investigation

Culture of resistanceMRSA

The drug-resistant germ MRSA lurks in Washington hospitals, carried by patients and staff and fueled by inconsistent infection control. This stubborn germ is spreading at an alarming rate, but no one has tracked these cases — until now. Read more

MRSA in Washington hospitals



These numbers do not indicate whether patients acquired MRSA in the hospital or had it beforehand. Studies show that six out of seven people with MRSA infections contracted the germ at a health-care facility. Search again

 
 
 
St. John Medical Center 346 Longview Cowlitz 345 Details
Grays Harbor Community Hospital 140 Aberdeen Grays Harbor 339 Details
Group Health Eastside Hospital (Closed) 179 Redmond King 317 Details
Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center 214 Yakima Yakima 306 Details
St. Clare Hospital 106 Lakewood Pierce 294 Details
Auburn Regional Medical Center 149 Auburn King 285 Details
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center 72 Tacoma Pierce 267 Details
Kennewick General Hospital 101 Kennewick Benton 261 Details
 
Harborview Medical Center 413 Seattle King 1,651 Details
Swedish Medical Center 860 Seattle King 1,284 Details
Sacred Heart Medical Center 623 Spokane Spokane 1,023 Details
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett 372 Everett Snohomish 1,022 Details
Tacoma General Hospital 521 Tacoma Pierce 957 Details
St. Joseph Hospital 253 Bellingham Whatcom 835 Details
Harrison Medical Center 297 Bremerton Kitsap 778 Details
Southwest Washington Medical Center 360 Vancouver Clark 702 Details
Virginia Mason Medical Center 336 Seattle King 687 Details
Deaconess Medical Center 388 Spokane Spokane 664 Details
Seattle Children's 250 Seattle King 634 Details
University of Washington Medical Center 450 Seattle King 620 Details
Providence St. Peter Medical Center 340 Olympia Thurston 596 Details
St. Joseph Medical Center 320 Tacoma Pierce 592 Details
Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill 385 Seattle King 588 Details
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital 226 Yakima Yakima 584 Details
Northwest Hospital 281 Seattle King 546 Details
Overlake Hospital Medical Center 337 Bellevue King 517 Details
Highline Medical Center 269 Burien King 509 Details
Evergreen Hospital Medical Center 227 Kirkland King 482 Details
Valley Medical Center 303 Renton King 462 Details
Good Samaritan Hospital 225 Puyallup Pierce 450 Details
Holy Family Hospital 272 Spokane Spokane 432 Details
Olympic Medical Center 126 Port Angeles Clallam 421 Details
Stevens Hospital 217 Edmonds Snohomish 351 Details
 
 
 
Kadlec Medical Center
188 Richland Benton 256 Details
St. Francis Hospital 110 Federal Way King 231 Details
Central Washington Hospital 206 Wenatchee Chelan 201 Details
Valley Hospital and Medical Center 123 Spokane Spokane 188 Details
Walla Walla General Hospital 72 Walla Walla Walla Walla 166 Details
Cascade Valley Hospital 48 Arlington Snohomish 163 Details
Providence Centralia Hospital 191 Centralia Lewis 160 Details
Valley General Hospital 72 Monroe Snohomish 160 Details
Mason General Hospital 68 Shelton Mason 159 Details
Capital Medical Center 110 Olympia Thurston 146 Details
Lourdes Medical Center 95 Pasco Franklin 138 Details
Toppenish Community Hospital 63 Toppenish Yakima 134 Details
Kindred Hospital Seattle 80 Seattle King 132 Details
Skagit Valley Hospital 137 Mt Vernon Skagit 132 Details
St. Mary Medical Center 145 Walla Walla Walla Walla 123 Details
Whidbey General Hospital 51 Coupeville Island 113 Details
St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute 102 Spokane Spokane 110 Details
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital 165 Vancouver Clark 103 Details
Jefferson Healthcare 42 Port Townsend Jefferson 95 Details
Tri-State Memorial Hospital 62 Clarkston Asotin 85 Details
Island Hospital 43 Anacortes Skagit 82 Details
St. Joseph's Hospital 65 Chewelah Stevens 78 Details
Ocean Beach Hospital 25 Ilwaco Pacific 65 Details
Pullman Regional Hospital 42 Pullman Whitman 65 Details
Mid-Valley Hospital 44 Omak Okanogan 55 Details
Affiliated Health Services 234 Mt Vernon Skagit 54 Details
Mount Carmel Hospital 55 Colville Stevens 50 Details
Regional Hospital for Respiratory and Complex Care 40 Tukwila King 50 Details
Samaritan Hospital 50 Moses Lake Grant 49 Details
Coulee Community Hospital 25 Grand Coulee Grant 40 Details
Sunnyside Community Hospital 38 Sunnyside Yakima 35 Details
Enumclaw Community Hospital 38 Enumclaw King 34 Details
Kittitas Valley Community Hospital 50 Ellensburg Kittitas 33 Details
Whitman Hospital and Medical Center 48 Colfax Whitman 29 Details
Newport Community Hospital 74 Newport Pend Oreille 28 Details
United General Hospital 97 Sedro-Woolley Skagit 27 Details
Willapa Harbor Hospital 26 South Bend Pacific 16 Details
Deer Park Hospital (Closed) 25 Deer Park Spokane 12 Details
Klickitat Valley Hospital 25 Goldendale Klickitat 11 Details
Morton General Hospital 31 Morton Lewis 11 Details
Prosser Memorial Hospital 62 Prosser Benton 11 Details
Okanogan Douglas Hospital 43 Brewster Okanogan 10 Details
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance 20 Seattle King 8 Details
North Valley Hospital 85 Tonasket Okanogan 6 Details
Othello Community Hospital 49 Othello Adams 6 Details
Skyline Hospital 32 White Salmon Klickitat 6 Details
Ferry County Memorial Hospital 25 Republic Ferry 5 Details
Lincoln Hospital 92 Davenport Lincoln 5 Details
Puget Sound Hospital (Closed)   Tacoma Pierce 5 Details
Quincy Valley Medical Center 25 Quincy Grant 5 Details
Columbia Basin Hospital 58 Ephrata Grant 4 Details
Wenatchee Valley Hospital 20 Wenatchee Chelan 4 Details
Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center 44 Odessa Lincoln 3 Details
East Adams Rural Hospital 20 Ritzville Adams 2 Details
Garfield County Memorial Hospital 45 Pomeroy Garfield 2 Details
Fairfax Hospital 133 Kirkland King 1 Details
Forks Community Hospital 45 Forks Clallam 1 Details
Mark Reed Hospital 24 McCleary Grays Harbor 1 Details
Puget Sound Behavioral Health (Closed)   Tacoma Pierce 1 Details
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital 28 Snoqualmie King 1 Details

Copper-Shield®  kills Germs—including “Superbug” MRSA 
responsible for hospital- and community-acquired infections.

 

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