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Title: | The silver lining of disposable sporicidal privacy curtains in an intensive care unit |
Authors: | Kotsanas, D. Wijesooriya, W.R.P.L.I. Sloane, T. Stuart, R. L. Gillespie, E. E. |
Keywords: | Bacteria-drug effects Bacteria- isolation and purification Intensive Care Units Patient Isolation-methods Silver-pharmacology Disinfectants-pharmacology Disposable Equipment-microbiology |
Issue Date: | 2014 |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Citation: | American Journal of Infection Control. 2014; 42(4):366-70 |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: The environment is a well-known source of health care-acquired infection. Because of the known risk of contamination, patient privacy curtains require frequent changes to decrease the risk of spread from patients to curtain and visa versa. METHODS: Fourteen disposable sporicidal privacy curtains were tested from December 2012 to June 2013 while hanging in a busy intensive care unit. Significant bacterial pathogens were identified and total bacteria enumerated as colony-forming units. Antimicrobial activity of curtain swatches was also tested against a range of bacteria in the laboratory. Measurements were recorded as zone of inhibition and contact inhibition. A cost analysis to replace standard curtains with disposable sporicidal curtains was also undertaken. RESULTS: Cultures grew low numbers of skin and environmental microorganisms with no methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or Clostridium difficile detected. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were recovered in very low numbers from 2 curtains where vancomycin-resistant enterococci-infected patients had been located. Privacy curtains demonstrated antimicrobial activity against C difficile and 13 additional bacterial pathogens. CONCLUSION:We conclude that disposable sporicidal privacy curtains are cost-effective and best replaced at 6 months in a high-risk area such as an intensive care unit. |
Description: | Indexed in MEDLINE |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/8967 |
ISSN: | 0196-6553 (Print) |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
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