Disposable curtains in ICU

[chani]

At a meeting the other day someone bought up the use of disposable curtains as an infection control strategy. In NSW (Australia) these are currently not in use or available (to my knowledge). I'd like to ask the members about their experiences with these items especially in relation to reduction in healthcare associated infections.

[NeosynephRN]

We do not currently have them, but I know that we have talked about them. I have not seen any EBP that states that they are better than the washable ones, you really do have to make sure that your curtain gets replaced though when your room is cleaned. Man sometimes I have to watch closely to see if they are switched out.

[sicushells, RN]

Our infection control department says that even washing curtains isn't necessary unless obviously soiled. (bleck!) Needless to say I've never used disposible curtains. Have you seen any evidence that curtains are a significant vector for infection?

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

Screw disposable curtains...why don't they work on making disposable versions of actual fomites like the EKG cables? Ours have a lovely little groove down the middle of them impossible to clean.

[chani]

Agreed there are many potential fomites in ICU and curtains are down the list. However if you observe behaviour HCW often touch curtains without then completing hand hygiene and changing between patients is difficult cause supply is always low.

As for the infection control department referred to above , Does that mean they only change their clothes and undies when they are visibly soiled.

When I find the evidence or lack of I will let you know. It appears to be a common practice in UK so are there any members from blighty out there?

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

I just read about the Alfred ICU in Melbourne - the new unit has magic glass that you press a button, and it puts an electrical charge through and turns frosted for privacy - no curtains!

I have not seen any evidence to curtains causing infection spread... but they seem icky!

There are disposable, single-use ECG cables I saw in a nursing journal this month.

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

not an ICU nurse but we can order curtain changes as art of deep clean of a bed area as part of infection control, maninly if a patietn is know c-diff, mrsa, tb etc, or norovirus

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

I just read about the Alfred ICU in Melbourne - the new unit has magic glass that you press a button, and it puts an electrical charge through and turns frosted for privacy - no curtains!

I have not seen any evidence to curtains causing infection spread... but they seem icky!

There are disposable, single-use ECG cables I saw in a nursing journal this month.

Link? I've heard such glass theorized, but I haven't seen it in reality outside of an office in a level from Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.

[hardlyw0rking]

Alfred ICU in Melbourne - magic glass - press a button - I-glass turns frosted for privacy

wmv Movie (at Alfred ICU not Splinter Cell)

[MaryAnn_RN]

We've been talking about disposable curtains but that is as far as it gets...just talk. What we do is each bed area is deep cleaned in between patients and both the mattress and curtains are changed.

I would love to have anything that brings our infection rate down. We used to be great and despite heroic attempts (dare I say draconian?) our patients keep getting infections. We currently have MRSA and VRE on the unit, plus other assorted goodies.

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

Alfred ICU in Melbourne - magic glass - press a button - I-glass turns frosted for privacy

wmv Movie (at Alfred ICU not Splinter Cell)

Wow!

Quite impressive.