Suspended intravenous (IV) pole, made by Copper BioHealth (CuBH SpA), Chile, 2010

Used to hang bags of fluids, medication or blood which are then delivered directly into a person’s blood through their vein, IV poles are a familiar sight in healthcare settings. Many of the surfaces and things used in hospitals can be carriers of bacteria and viruses. Some of these can be harmful to our health and can cause healthcare acquired infections. Copper naturally kills some bacteria and viruses by breaking down their cell walls in a process called contact killing. Early research shows that using copper does reduce the amount of bacteria being transferred around hospitals.