Different Color Pillows to Prevent Infection

[Luna Nightingale]

Was wondering if anyone had any info on this topic... Awhile back I read an article/study (and darn it, can't remember from where) about using different color pillowcases. This was to help prevent using pillows underneath a patient's head that had been down at the foot of the bed, etc. I work on a Neuro-Ortho floor, and we use a LOT of pillows when repositioning knees, hips, etc. I think my floor would benefit from it, but my manager would like written info... Your help with this would be very appreciated!

[Flo., BSN, RN]

that seems like a good idea. I haven't seen any research on it.

[CathyLew]

wow, what a great idea! or even an infection pillow... a pillow that was assigned to MRSA rooms. or using disposable pillows for infection control rooms.

[technicoloredlife]

i agree... it's a great way to avoid cross contamination between different body parts...

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

"To help prevent pneumonia infections among patients on ventilators, one staffer suggested color-coded pillows to keep those used to support legs and feet from being used under patients' heads. Along with other measures, the hospital has reduced pneumonia infections to near zero, Nutter said."

http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/05/preventing_hospital_infections.html

That is the only article I found

[headinsandRN]

What's wrong with a new pillow case?

[sunnycalifRN]

What's wrong with a new pillow case?

Agreed. I just change the pillow case frequently and any time it's visibly soiled. We already have too many "policies"!

[Emergency RN]

i agree... it's a great way to avoid cross contamination between different body parts...

LOL, yeah but all that goes out the window as soon as a patient scratches his behind, picks his toes, and then picks his nose. Seriously, we can consider putting the patient into a vacuum bag too, just to keep the germs out.

I know, dark side humor...

But forgive me; we can carry these things to extremes. There comes a point of diminishing returns; you may wind up spending a lot of both money and time, and not have much overall clinical advantage in the long run. IMHO teaching the patient proper self hygiene (like we all as good nurses should do) would probably effectively accomplish a lot more. Prevention of bacteria from going into the patient would also likely do more. Further, I'm interested in just how much did these pillows in the article do in terms of combating infection. Their story doesn't really isolate or measure the clinical impact of the pillow changes alone; it could have accounted for all or none of the improvement.

For example, if people say that groin prone bacteria (like E. Coli) was found in patient's lungs routinely, but disappeared with the segregation of pillows, then that would be clinical evidence. As it is, pneumonias could have been decreased simply because the patients got better antibiotic prophylaxis, or nurses could have been washing their hands more before touching those pillows.