title: Effectiveness of improved hydrogen peroxide in decontaminating privacy curtains contaminated with multidrug-resistant pathogens.
abstract: We tested the ability of an improved hydrogen peroxide solution to decontaminate privacy curtains in inpatient and outpatient areas. The microbial contamination of the curtains was assessed before and after the curtains were sprayed with improved hydrogen peroxide. The disinfectant reduced the microbial load on the privacy curtains by 96.8% in 37 patient rooms.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Safety Program, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC. Electronic address: brutala@unch.unc.edu.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rutala
authors.affiliation: Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Safety Program, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gergen
authors.affiliation: Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Safety Program, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Emily E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sickbert-Bennett
authors.affiliation: Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Safety Program, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Safety Program, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Decontamination; Disinfection; Environment; Health care associated