▁protein , ▁and / or ▁break down ▁of ▁the ▁protein ▁into ▁non function al ▁port ions . ▁ ▁These ▁potential ▁mechan isms , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁others , ▁are ▁the ▁subject ▁of ▁continu ing ▁study ▁by ▁academic ▁research ▁labor ator ies ▁around ▁the ▁world . ▁ ▁Ant im icro b ial ▁effic acy ▁of ▁co pper ▁al loy ▁touch ▁surfaces ▁ ▁Co pper ▁al loy ▁surfaces ▁have ▁intr insic ▁properties ▁to ▁destroy ▁a ▁wide ▁range ▁of ▁micro organ isms . ▁In ▁the ▁interest ▁of ▁protect ing ▁public ▁health , ▁especially ▁in ▁health care ▁environments ▁with ▁their ▁sus cept ible ▁patient ▁populations , ▁an ▁abund ance ▁of ▁peer - review ed ▁ant im icro b ial ▁effic acy ▁studies ▁have ▁been ▁conducted ▁in ▁the ▁past ▁ 1 0 ▁years ▁regarding ▁co pper ' s ▁effic acy ▁to ▁destroy ▁E . ▁col i ▁O 1 5 7 : H 7 , ▁m eth ic ill in - res istant ▁St ap hy loc oc cus ▁a ure us ▁( MR SA ), ▁St ap hy loc oc cus , ▁Clo str id ium ▁diff icile , ▁influen za ▁A ▁virus , ▁ad en ov irus , ▁and ▁fung i . ▁St ain less ▁steel ▁was ▁also ▁investig ated ▁because ▁it ▁is ▁an ▁important ▁surface ▁material ▁in ▁today ' s ▁health care ▁environments . ▁The ▁studies ▁c ited ▁here , ▁plus ▁others ▁directed ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Environment al ▁Prote ction ▁Agency , ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁registration ▁of ▁ 2 7