CASE STUDY #2

Photos courtesy of Inpro

Westchester Medical Center

Project: Privacy Curtains Antimicrobial Testing
Location: Valhalla, New York

Background: Westchester Medical Center (WMC) in Valhalla, NY suspected that their privacy curtains in patient areas, considered ‘high touch’ surfaces, were prime suspects in the spread of infections. Accordingly, researchers conducted study of standard and anti-microbial treated privacy curtains. Their purpose was to assess anti-microbial activity of standard privacy curtains versus anti-microbial privacy curtains and to compare direct and indirect costs associated with each.

Methods: WMC researchers performed tests using one standard fabric sample and two samples of anti-microbial fabrics. Each one was evaluated for anti-microbial activity by placing fabric samples directly onto a surface inoculated with clinical isolates or quality control organisms. Antimicrobial activity was measured using standard methods per the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute.

Results: A total of 15 clinical and quality control organisms, including MRSA, VRE, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Enterobacter cloacae and A. baumannii, were tested. One of the anti-microbial fabrics exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity comparable to that of an antibiotic control disc, while the other showed much less activity. No antimicrobial activity was detected with the standard fabric sample. The researchers concluded that “[one] antimicrobial curtain showed in-vitro activity against hospital pathogens that was comparable to that of an antibiotic disc.”

Impact: In year one, Westchester recognized a cost savings of $50,612 by installing anti-microbial privacy curtains, despite a higher initial purchase cost. In year two and going forward, an additional $139,138 was projected to be saved due to reductions in labor, laundering and room closure time associated with not changing curtains for isolation rooms