Potential for preventing spread of fungi in air-conditioning systems constructed using copper instead of aluminium

Letters in Applied Microbiology
L WeaverC W Keevil

Abstract

As copper has been previously suggested as an antimicrobial surface, we tested the effectiveness of copper as an antifungal surface which could be used in air-conditioning systems as an alternative to aluminium. Coupons of copper (C11000) and aluminium were inoculated with fungal isolates (Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium chrysogenum and Candida albicans) for various time periods. Culture on potato dextrose agar and an in situ viability assay using the fluorochrome FUN-1 were used to determine whether spores had survived. The results showed increased die off of fungal isolates tested compared to aluminium. In addition, copper also prevented the germination of spores present, thereby reducing the risk of the release of spores. Copper offered an antifungal surface and prevented subsequent germination of spores present. FUN-1 demonstrated that fungal spores entered into a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state on copper indicating the importance of using such methods when assessing the effect of an antifungal as culture alone may give false results. Copper offers a valuable alternative to aluminium which could be used in air-conditioning systems in buildings, particularly in hospital environments where patients are mor...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 12, 2011·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·S L Warnes, C W Keevil
Dec 15, 2010·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Christophe Espírito SantoGregor Grass
Nov 26, 2010·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Davide QuarantaGregor Grass
Jan 5, 2011·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Gregor GrassMarc Solioz
Nov 8, 2011·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Jean-Benjamin MuratLaurence Millon
Oct 14, 2010·Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials·Giorgio LiguoriMaria Triassi
Sep 17, 2013·PloS One·Sarah L Warnes, C William Keevil
Mar 9, 2011·Biometals : an International Journal on the Role of Metal Ions in Biology, Biochemistry, and Medicine·Renu NandakumarGregor Grass
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Jul 28, 2012·International Journal of Food Microbiology·Amparo LlorensAvelina Fernandez
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May 21, 2016·Frontiers in Microbiology·Angelica Reyes-JaraGuillermo Figueroa
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Jul 14, 2017·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Mohamed WehbeMarcel B Bally
Nov 12, 2015·MBio·Sarah L WarnesC William Keevil
Dec 3, 2014·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Sarah L WarnesC William Keevil
Jan 5, 2018·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Fariba Abbasi, Mohammad Reza Samaei
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Mar 18, 2017·American Journal of Infection Control·Michael G SchmidtBruce E Hirsch

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