title: Contamination of hospital curtains with healthcare-associated pathogens.
abstract: In a culture survey, we found that 42% of hospital privacy curtains were contaminated with vancomycin-resistant enterococci, 22% with ethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and 4% with Clostridium difficile. Hand imprint cultures demonstrated that these pathogens were easily acquired on hands. Hospital curtains are a potential source for dissemination of healthcare-associated pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Floyd
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trillis
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Eckstein
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budavich
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pultz
authors.forename: Curtis J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Donskey
mesh_terms: D001512:Bedding and Linens / Q000382:microbiology*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance