Copper could help stop hospital-acquired infections

Copper has many roles in society, from conducting electricity to wiring cars. It also can save lives. Replacing commonly touched hospital surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches and bed rails with products made of copper can reduce hospital-acquired infections by more than half, according to a 2013 clinical trial at three U.S. hospitals funded by the Department of Defense. Hospital-acquired infections are a big problem in health-care facilities, especially for immune-deficient cancer patients. One of every 25 hospital patients acquires such an infection, which kills nearly 100,000 people a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.