Researchers from the University of Iowa presented data at a scientific conference in
Chicago this week showing that they had found disease-causing bugs, including
drug-resistant varieties like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus), on 95% of hospital room privacy
curtains tested. Brand new curtains were contaminated within a week, the researchers said. The team tested 43 curtains in 30 hospital rooms twice a week for three weeks,
taking 180 swab cultures total. They found:
- 12 of 13 new curtains were contaminated within 7 days
- 41 of 43 curtains were contaminated on at least one occasion
- MRSA was found on 21% of curtains
- VRE was found on 42% of curtains
One of the authors of the study received consulting fees from PurThread Technologies,
a company that makes antimicrobial fabrics for hospitals — including, hey, privacy curtains.
Luckily, there's an easier and cheaper way for doctors to prevent the spread of
disease-causing bacteria from curtains (or anywhere) to patients: by washing their hands.
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