An article in today's Daily Press called "New Countertops Counter Germs" that was written by Tara Bozick talked about a Sentara hospital in Norfolk buying new countertops and surface infused with copper.  Copper is known to kill bacteria, and the company that is providing the surfaces claims they will kill 99.9 percent of the bacteria.  The hospital will be putting the copper infused surfaces on commonly touched places like doorknobs.  Even though this is probably pretty expensive, as copper tends to be, they are not using straight copper, just surfaces infused with it.  I think it is important for hospitals to continue to look for new ways to keep the hospital clean, to protect the patients and help their own income by bulding a good reputation.