Nicholas: Basic safeguards could prevent hospital infections
In the realm of modern medicine, the spotlight often shines on groundbreaking technologies and advanced treatments. However, infection-control experts are raising alarms about a critical, yet frequently overlooked aspect of patient safety: the basic safeguards that are essential for preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in 31 hospital patients suffers from at least one HAI on any given day, translating to nearly 1.7 million cases annually and resulting in about 100,000 fatalities in hospitals each year. The financial burden of these infections is staggering, costing the U.S. healthcare system between $28 billion and $45 billion annually, as highlighted by research funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research.
One of the most alarming revelations from recent studies is the role of seemingly innocuous items like cubicle curtains in the spread of infections. Infection Control Today has identified these curtains as some of the most frequently touched and least regulated surfaces in healthcare settings. Typically, hospitals only replace these curtains when they are visibly soiled, yet research published in the American Journal of Infection Control indicates that they can become breeding grounds for resistant bacteria, including MRSA. In fact, by day 14, a staggering 87.5% of privacy curtains tested positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Infection-control advocates are urging hospitals to implement a routine replacement schedule of at least once every quarter, complemented by electronic tracking systems to ensure compliance. This simple, low-cost intervention could significantly mitigate infection transmission risks in patient rooms.
In addition to curtain replacement, hand hygiene remains a critical but often neglected component of infection prevention. Despite extensive public health campaigns emphasizing the importance of handwashing, studies reveal a concerning gap between clinicians’ perceived compliance rates and actual practices. For instance, operating-room staff self-reported hand hygiene compliance rates of 73%, while endoscopy staff claimed 95%, yet observed compliance was alarmingly low at just 11%. Furthermore, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), among the most prevalent HAIs, can be effectively managed through nurse-driven protocols that empower nurses to remove catheters without needing physician orders. Research has shown that such protocols can reduce catheter usage significantly and halve the incidence of CAUTIs. As healthcare facilities continue to invest in advanced technologies, infection-prevention experts emphasize that fundamental practices—such as proper hand hygiene, timely replacement of contaminated curtains, and prudent management of medical devices—are essential for reducing infections, saving lives, and ultimately lowering healthcare costs. By refocusing on these basic yet critical measures, hospitals can enhance patient safety and improve overall health outcomes.
New technologies tend to dominate headlines in modern medicine, but infection-control experts warn that basic, overlooked safeguards are increasingly becoming weak links in patient safety — contributing to the stubbornly high rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 31 hospital patients on any given day has at least one HAI. Nearly 1.7 million patients develop these infections annually, and 100,000 die in hospitals as a result. HAIs cost the healthcare system between $28 billion and $45 billion annually, according to research funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Now, infection-control specialists say small, inexpensive interventions — such as routine replacement of cubicle curtains — could dramatically reduce those risks.
High-touch surfaces are expected to be cleaned frequently in clinical settings, but cubicle and privacy curtains often go unnoticed. Infection Control Today recently identified them as among “healthcare’s most touched and least regulated surfaces.”
Most hospitals change curtains only when they appear soiled. However, a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found privacy curtains can be breeding grounds for resistant bacteria such as MRSA. Most hospitals change curtains when they are visibly soiled, despite evidence that they become contaminated over a 21-day period, with 87.5% of the curtains testing positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by day 14.
With federal and state guidelines offering little clarity, the publication recommends hospitals replace privacy curtains at least once per quarter and use electronic tracking systems to ensure compliance. Advocates say this low-cost practice could significantly reduce transmission risks in patient rooms.
Another low-cost, highly effective policy is hand hygiene. Despite decades of public health messaging, hand hygiene remains another chronic weak point. One study cited by researchers found a striking disconnect between how often clinicians believed they cleaned their hands and how often they actually did. Operating-room staff self-reported compliance rates of 73%; endoscopy staff reported 95%. Observed compliance was just 11%.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) also remain among the most common HAIs. These, too, are highly preventable.
Nurse-driven protocols allowing nurses to remove catheters without physician orders have shown significant benefits. One study found these protocols reduced catheter use from 49.4% to 34.84% and cut CAUTI incidence by more than half.
While hospitals continue investing in advanced diagnostic tools and antimicrobial materials, infection-prevention experts say the fundamentals still matter most. Simple, inexpensive steps — washing hands, replacing contaminated curtains, removing unnecessary devices — have proven track records of reducing infections, saving lives and lowering costs.
Karina Nicholas is a freelance writer in Michigan/InsideSources
