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Published on: June 21, 2022
The efficacy of self-disinfecting bedrail covers in an intensive care unit
Lisa M Esolen1, Lokendra Thakur2, Abraham J Layon2
1Department of Infection Prevention and Control, The Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA.
Background:
Hospital surfaces are considered important vectors in the spread of nosocomial pathogens. This study evaluated microbial counts on novel antimicrobial bedrail covers over a 2-week period in a critical care environment.
Methods:
Disposable bedrail covers (Aionx Inc, Hershey, PA) made of a copper and silver polymer and capable of conducting an imperceptible surface potential, were installed in a case-control manner on a series of occupied intensive care unit beds. Seventeen bedrails were covered with the study bedrail surface, and 17 were left uncovered. Two hundred seventy-two microbial surface cultures were obtained from both study and control bedrails and analyzed for microbial growth by bacterial enumeration and speciation.
Results:
The bedrails covered with the study surface demonstrated >80% average decrease in colony forming units across the study period of 15 days.
Conclusions:
These novel, detachable bedrail covers successfully demonstrated significant bacterial count reduction in an intensive care unit setting. This may have implications for acquisition of hospital-acquired infections.
Insights
Novel antimicrobial bedrail covers significantly reduced bacterial counts by over 80% in intensive care units. These findings suggest a potential method to decrease hospital-acquired infections from contaminated surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Materials Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Hospital surfaces are significant vectors for the transmission of nosocomial pathogens.
- Evaluating novel antimicrobial materials is crucial for infection prevention in healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of new antimicrobial bedrail covers in reducing microbial contamination.
- To determine the impact of these covers on bacterial counts in a critical care environment over a two-week period.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted in an intensive care unit (ICU).
- Disposable bedrail covers made of a copper and silver polymer were installed on 17 ICU beds, with 17 beds serving as controls.
- 272 microbial surface cultures were collected and analyzed for bacterial enumeration and speciation.
Main Results:
- Bedrails with the antimicrobial covers showed a greater than 80% average decrease in colony-forming units.
- This significant reduction in microbial load was observed over the 15-day study period.
Conclusions:
- Novel, detachable antimicrobial bedrail covers effectively reduced bacterial counts in an ICU.
- These findings indicate a potential strategy for mitigating the acquisition of hospital-acquired infections.
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