Healthcare-Associated infections pose a danger for everyone who works in, visits, or receives treatment at healthcare facilities.
These hospital infections can be easily spread on soft surfaces and often result in death if not treated immediately with appropriate antibiotics – which many of them are unable to receive because they have compromised immune systems due to their age or illness.
It is imperative that cleaning measures are put into place to keep patients safe while also preserving the reputation of these hospitals, so people don’t draw unnecessary fears about safety around every visit!
Hospital-wide infection control measures, such as proper laundering and replacement of cubicle curtains in healthcare facilities, can help to reduce the risks and spread HAIs.
Hospital surfaces can carry dangerous bacteria, like MRSA and VRE, posing risks to patients.
These bacteria can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, including common items like privacy curtains found in many Australian hospitals.
Studies have shown that these curtains are particularly prone to harboring germs because their material is tough yet porous.
This makes them a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which can thrive in the deep crevices of the fabric.
Unfortunately, these areas rarely receive enough sunlight to naturally kill the germs, and the texture of the curtains traps dirt and bacteria, making them appear clean at a glance even without frequent washing.
So what are the choices of the hospital housekeeping?
Here are the experts’ recommendations for cleaning hospital curtains:
Hospitals should increase the frequency at which they wash their hospital curtains. By their nature, these are a pain to clean and don’t get laundered as often. Experts recommend that hospitals use more than one washing cycle to ensure all fluids come out.
The experts recommend washing hospital curtains with bleach and hot water to kill any germs that may linger on them. When possible, it’s best to take a sample after the laundry cycle for testing purposes before putting your curtain back up in order just make sure there isn’t anything hazardous or harmful lurking around!
There are various ways to kill germs, including using physical means like steam vapour units.
- The steam vapour is one of the best tools for disinfection a fabric. When you apply steam to any surface, common sense tells us that germs will die. But what many people don’t know is how little moisture it needs before the vapour can damage the fabric of privacy curtains, So housekeeping should be careful when using the dry steam vapour.
According to experts, the solution works well for privacy curtains because they are more often disinfected than laundered. Experts highly recommend steam vapour as a great way to disinfect without changing the curtains, and it can even be done while patients are in the room!
- The use of UV light in hospitals has been found to be an effective way not only for disinfecting rooms but also for sanitising surfaces, equipment and items such as bedding. This type of technology contains the “C” band, which acts like a natural cleaner on many types of bacteria spores or viruses without any harmful effects!
The UV-C light will be able to cleanse and disinfect your entire room, says an Expert. It’s very reliable because it doesn’t miss any surfaces!
- The disposable privacy curtains can be an affordable and easy solution for those who don’t want to deal with installing regular window coverings. They’re also simple enough that you could change them out anytime in just 10 seconds!
- The disposable privacy curtains can be an excellent choice for those who want to maintain their elegance and keep costs low. These fabrics come in many colours, so you’ll never have a problem finding something that matches the room style! And because they’re only intended as temporary measures (with most lasting around 10 years), this will still take care of all those pesky enhancement needs without breaking too much bank – especially when compared to more permanent options such as roller blinds which typically cost $80-$200 per panel depending upon the size required by window/door frames etc., not including installation fees.
The Missouri experts say you can change an entire room’s privacy curtains in just one minute! With traditional curtain rods, it usually takes a man on ladder hour to make these adjustments—but not any more, thanks, so yours truly has been going around doing their dirty work for them by changing out all sorts and sizes the damages-67% less time than before.
- The latest in chemical means for disinfecting privacy curtains has emerged. This technology works similar to foggers, but instead of insects, it targets bacteria which can lead to patient rooms being cleaner and healthier environments with less worry about infection!
These experts warn that technology has disadvantages, but they suggest it can be more effective than other alternatives. Its major disadvantage is that nhaling harmful chemicals may cause asthma and allergies in some people – a problem for those with delicate respiratory systems.
Choose A Cleaning Solution That is Easy and Quick
People aren’t disinfecting privacy curtains now because it takes a lot of hard work to get them done.
The frequency of cleaning and disinfection should depend on the facility. It’s important to find a cleaning or sanitation interval that reduces pathogen levels enough without reducing them too much so as not to increase your risks for hospital infections (HAIs).
Helping one another
The primary way germs deposit on privacy curtains is through contact from hands when people move them. Another common source of contamination is from aerosols produced when people cough or sneeze. Additionally, touching your face without washing your hands can quickly spread germs to various surfaces.
It’s crucial for both hospital staff and patients to practice good hand hygiene to prevent the spread of germs. Housekeeping staff should use disinfectants correctly, following the manufacturer’s instructions on the proper amount and the required contact time before a surface is considered safe to touch. This reduces the risk of transferring viruses, which could be carried on a person’s clothes or spread through the hospital’s ventilation system during patient transfers.
High-touch surfaces such as bed rails, light switches, supply carts, and overbed tables need particular attention to avoid cross-contamination. For instance, if these surfaces aren’t regularly cleaned, they can transfer germs to nearby curtains or other objects.
Surprisingly, many high-touch areas in hospitals are not regularly cleaned, often due to a lack of awareness or concern from the staff. Educating all hospital workers on the importance of cleaning specific areas can help avoid these oversight issues.
Experts recommend implementing educational programs that cover all aspects of hospital cleanliness, including how to handle privacy curtains. This ensures that everyone, from doctors to nurses, is aware of proper cleaning protocols.
The healthcare industry is also benefiting from innovations like bacteria-resistant curtains and disposable fabric options provided by private companies. These advancements help maintain cleanliness and safety in medical facilities, which is critical for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
To effectively address the issue of curtain contamination, hospital staff, including healthcare workers, infection control professionals, and housekeeping teams, should collaborate. By forming committees to discuss and implement effective solutions, hospitals can ensure safety without incurring excessive costs.
