Effect of Thickness of Copper Plating on Antimicrobial Properties against S. aureus
School Name
Chapin High School
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Microbiology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Copper has significant antimicrobial effects (1,2). The implementation of copper into a hospital setting has also shown a dramatic decrease in infection rates (3). This study is focused on the use of varying thicknesses of plated copper on 4x4cm steel plates and whether the varying thickness is independent of the antimicrobial action on S. aureus. Two primary steps were necessary for experimentation. The first was to copper plate the steel plates by an electrolytic cell, comprised of a copper rod anode connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and the steel plate cathode connected to the negative, suspended in a Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate solution. The second is the inoculation and incubation of agar plates by samples of S. aureus taken from copper plates. Further research is necessary at lower dilutions of the S. aureus sample before incubation, as the initial incubations had counts significantly greater than 300 colonies. If the proper bacterial counts are successful, no significant correlation between thickness and antimicrobial action would suggest that even at low thicknesses, copper retains its antimicrobial effects on S. aureus. This means that my hypothesis would be confirmed, and that an increase in thickness has no added antimicrobial action. This could potentially suggest that hospitals could implement copper plated handles in susceptible areas, such as hand rails, instead of copper alloys, such as bronze, which would be more expensive. The increased cost effectiveness could potentially increase the implementation of such plating, further decreasing infection rates in hospitals.
Recommended Citation
Abdulrahman, Adam, "Effect of Thickness of Copper Plating on Antimicrobial Properties against S. aureus" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 159.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/159
Location
Wall 224
Start Date
3-25-2017 8:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
Effect of Thickness of Copper Plating on Antimicrobial Properties against S. aureus
Wall 224
Copper has significant antimicrobial effects (1,2). The implementation of copper into a hospital setting has also shown a dramatic decrease in infection rates (3). This study is focused on the use of varying thicknesses of plated copper on 4x4cm steel plates and whether the varying thickness is independent of the antimicrobial action on S. aureus. Two primary steps were necessary for experimentation. The first was to copper plate the steel plates by an electrolytic cell, comprised of a copper rod anode connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and the steel plate cathode connected to the negative, suspended in a Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate solution. The second is the inoculation and incubation of agar plates by samples of S. aureus taken from copper plates. Further research is necessary at lower dilutions of the S. aureus sample before incubation, as the initial incubations had counts significantly greater than 300 colonies. If the proper bacterial counts are successful, no significant correlation between thickness and antimicrobial action would suggest that even at low thicknesses, copper retains its antimicrobial effects on S. aureus. This means that my hypothesis would be confirmed, and that an increase in thickness has no added antimicrobial action. This could potentially suggest that hospitals could implement copper plated handles in susceptible areas, such as hand rails, instead of copper alloys, such as bronze, which would be more expensive. The increased cost effectiveness could potentially increase the implementation of such plating, further decreasing infection rates in hospitals.
