This ERI review concludes that there was really only one RCT (the one you linked), and they found that the study didn’t actually reach significance
Our calculation found that the difference in the HAI rate (regardless of MRSA/VRE colonization status) between the study groups was not significant (copper-equipped ICUs: 17⁄294 [5.8%] versu snon-copper-equipped ICUs: 29⁄320 [9.1%]; p=0.123). The median length of stay for both groups was four days (p=0.74). The reported mortality rate was 42⁄294 patients (14.29%) in copper-equipped ICUs versus 50⁄320 (15.63%) in non-copper-equipped ICUs(p=0.64).
What’s going on here is that Salgado splits outcomes into 4 groups, nothing, infection, colonization, and both, and finds a difference between the 4 groups. The review says “I only care about infection” and compares infection vs non-infection, and finds no significance. Each version of their math checks out, but I’m inclined to trust the review here.
If it’s a cheap countermeasure that aims, in the better estimate, for a 50% reduction of a small risk I think you’d be better off asking yourself if you’d buy it at double price rather than deciding which of the equally persuasive, conflicting experimental evidences about its efficacy you should trust. Also if you’re worried about non monetary costs like hand skin damage, I guess you’d better decide if you’d put up with the same cost for a 25% risk reduction.
This ERI review concludes that there was really only one RCT (the one you linked), and they found that the study didn’t actually reach significance
What’s going on here is that Salgado splits outcomes into 4 groups, nothing, infection, colonization, and both, and finds a difference between the 4 groups. The review says “I only care about infection” and compares infection vs non-infection, and finds no significance. Each version of their math checks out, but I’m inclined to trust the review here.
This quasiexperimental study found similar decreases in infection rates however.
I’m not sure how to evaluate this evidence, but I’d be cautious about taking the Salgado results on its face.
If it’s a cheap countermeasure that aims, in the better estimate, for a 50% reduction of a small risk I think you’d be better off asking yourself if you’d buy it at double price rather than deciding which of the equally persuasive, conflicting experimental evidences about its efficacy you should trust. Also if you’re worried about non monetary costs like hand skin damage, I guess you’d better decide if you’d put up with the same cost for a 25% risk reduction.