Bacterial attachment and initiation of biofilms on the surface of copper containing stainless steel

Abstract

Type 304 stainless steel, copper containing stainless steel, and oxygen free copper were subjected to antibacterial tests and short term exposure experiments in a laboratory. Antibacterial tests showed that the copper containing stainless steel, as well as oxygen free copper, was antibacterial, yet the antibacterial activity of the copper containing stainless steel was lower than that of the oxygen free copper. In short term exposure experiments, the copper containing stainless steel, as well as type 304 stainless steel, didn't sterilize planktonic bacterial cells, while the oxygen free copper reduced the number of alive planktonic bacterial cells. The copper containing stainless steel did not protect itself from bacterial adhesion, but sterilized about 75 % of sessile bacterial cells and reduced formation of biofilms on its surface. Such experimental results indicate that the copper containing stainless steel is effective against biofilm related impacts.