In what is shocking to no one, the University of Iowa has determined that hospital privacy curtains are a dangerous source of deadly bacteria and, in my opinion, a potentially dangerous cause of hospital acquired infections. How say you Happy?
The study, titled Hospital Privacy Curtains are Frequently and Rapidly Contaminated with Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria was funded by an unrestricted grant from the maker of antimicrobial resistant fabrics. But, don't let that sway your concern.
Over a three week period, hospital privacy curtains in 8 medical ICU, 7 surgical ICU and 15 medical wards were swabbed twice weekly from the leading edge of 43 separate privacy curtains for a total of 180 swab samples.
The results were not shocking to anyone that works in a hospital. A full two thirds (119/180) swab samples tested positive for S. aureus (26%), Enterococcus spp. (44%), or gram-negatives (22%). And 41 out of 43 curtains (95%) were contaminated on at least one occasion during the three weeks.
Of the curtains that were actually placed during the study, 92% of them were contaminated within one week. And yes, MRSA was found in 21% and VRE was discovered in 42% of these hospital privacy curtains.
Could this be the end of hospital privacy?
