Replacing doorknobs could help in the battle against MRSA

Replacing hospital doorknobs for the old-style brass or copper variety could make a difference says Professor Bill Keevil from Southampton University.

He has found that MRSA can live on stainless steel for up to 72 hours. However, on certain copper alloys, its lifespan is just 90 minutes.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday, Professor Keevil said: "We are suffering from the fact that we live in the modern world where we have come over to modern stainless steels and plastic finishes on door handles and push plates on doors."

If we can improve the cleaning of doorknobs, for example, or actually have other materials such as copper and brass, then anything is going to help to try and fight this pathogen Professor Bill Keevil Southampton University

"The stainless steel, to the eye, looks a nice, bright, clean surface.

"One of its attributes is the fact that it should be easily cleaned.

"But stainless steel can scratch and so we get, effectively, microscopic valleys where bacteria can hide in the valleys."

Professor Keevil said stainless steel was a material which should be cleaned regularly.

One of the issues is whether hospitals have the resources to send cleaners around to do doorknobs every two or three hours.

He pointed out that 20 years ago, an American doctor found that where doorknobs had been replaced with the stainless steel variety, the new knobs had a high bacterial count whereas the older brass knobs had a very low bacterial count.

The professor said he had heard another US senior physician lament the fact that the old brass handles had been replaced because he believed it was a major contributory factor to emerging hospital acquired disease.

"We are talking of multiple barriers. MRSA is a highly virulent, infectious, 'superbug' and we need as many steps as possible to try and control it," Professor Keevil said.

"Obviously good hygiene practice, like washing hands, not just for doctors and nurses, but for visitors into wards, really should be recommended.