title: The silver lining of disposable sporicidal privacy curtains in an intensive care unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The environment is a well-known source of health care-acquired infection. Because of the known risk of contamination, patient privacy curtains require frequent changes to decrease the risk of spread from patients to curtain and visa versa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen disposable sporicidal privacy curtains were tested from December 2012 to June 2013 while hanging in a busy intensive care unit. Significant bacterial pathogens were identified and total bacteria enumerated as colony-forming units. Antimicrobial activity of curtain swatches was also tested against a range of bacteria in the laboratory. Measurements were recorded as zone of inhibition and contact inhibition. A cost analysis to replace standard curtains with disposable sporicidal curtains was also undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cultures grew low numbers of skin and environmental microorganisms with no methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or Clostridium difficile detected. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were recovered in very low numbers from 2 curtains where vancomycin-resistant enterococci-infected patients had been located. Privacy curtains demonstrated antimicrobial activity against C difficile and 13 additional bacterial pathogens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that disposable sporicidal privacy curtains are cost-effective and best replaced at 6 months in a high-risk area such as an intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: despina.kotsanas@monashhealth.org.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotsanas
authors.affiliation: Infection Control and Epidemiology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: W R P L I
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wijesooriya
authors.affiliation: Infection Control and Epidemiology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.affiliation: Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Infection Control and Epidemiology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhonda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Infection Control and Epidemiology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000379:methods*; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D012834:Silver
keywords: Cost analysis; Disposable privacy curtains; Intensive care unit; Nanoparticle silver; Sporicidal