How Often Do You Need to Clean Hospital Curtains?
Hospital curtains offer privacy and security. How can they protect themselves from potentially harmful bacteria? Learn how to reduce infection and disease risks by managing cubicle curtains in medical facilities.
Cubicle Curtains – The Risk
Infections that are related to healthcare can cost the system millions of dollars. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most infections are caused by poor hand hygiene and unsanitary soft surfaces.
Cubicle curtains are one of the most important objects that can affect hospital-acquired infection rates. A recent study by Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology showed that privacy curtains in patient rooms are frequently infected by harmful microorganisms such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Hospital Curtains Sanitation – A Quick Guide
The curtain should be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It is important to look at how textiles in healthcare facilities are handled since privacy curtains are made of fabric.
Guidelines for proper laundering and bedding handling were recommended by the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council as well as Environmental Services & Infectious Disease Control. These techniques are important because not all processes, such as dry cleaning or home laundering, are the same.
The manufacturer’s guidelines will help you determine the frequency at which cubicle curtains need to be replaced. To keep it simple, here are some scenarios that you can consider to minimize healthcare-associated infection.
Visibly dirty: Change it if it is stained.
In isolation cases, change the curtains as soon the patients leave the hospital.
You should change them every quarter or as recommended by the infection control.
Cleaning and Changing Issues
The cubicle curtain is functional and serves its purpose. However, cleaning and changing them can be difficult due to the following problems.
Many hospitals don’t have a changing or cleaning policy.
Many companies do not maintain documentation regarding cubicle curtain adjustments.
There is not enough space for sufficient inventory storage at the institution.
Laundering takes time and can slow down patient room turnaround times.
For some curtain systems, additional resources are required for installation.
Tips for Curtain Cleaning and Maintenance
It may be difficult for some to change their curtains as often or as frequently as they need. These are some tips to help you increase your infection prevention efforts.
Look into a Full-Service program
Look for a launderer who offers complete management of hospital privacy curtains. They must deliver clean textiles, change them frequently, take inventory and document the changes. A good partner should inspect curtains and replace any permanently damaged or stained ones for clients at no charge.
Laundering is a Best Practice
To ensure clean and safe environment services, the launderer should be dedicated to healthcare. They must adhere to the requirements of the credentialing organizations.
Requires Proof of Compliance
Ask about their inventory management and documentation processes. The perfect partner will maximize their technology capabilities to minimize errors.
Safety Solutions
It should be easy and safe to clean privacy curtains. Providers that are able to handle the cleaning of cubicle curtains and provide simplified methods should be considered.
Avoid Additional Capital Investments
The budget can be stretched to the limit by purchasing new curtains for the facility. This includes patient care areas as well as intensive care units. To avoid large upfront costs, choose a launderer that allows panel rental.
Select a Simplified Privacy Curve System
Partner with a company that offers a variety of services. For example, the same-sized panels can be used to adjust for ceiling heights that are different. Because the cubicle curtains are the same size, it is easy to remove and replace them.
Hospital Curtains: The Experts
Ulentextile offers the ideal solution for all your spaces, even those in health care facilities. We can supply privacy curtains of superior quality for your facility. Contact us to learn more about our products and receive excellent customer service.