Nicholas: Basic safeguards could prevent hospital infections
In the fast-paced world of modern medicine, the focus often shifts to cutting-edge technologies and innovative treatments. However, infection-control experts are sounding the alarm about a critical oversight: basic hygiene practices and safeguards are increasingly neglected, leading to high rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in 31 hospital patients suffers from an HAI on any given day, translating to nearly 1.7 million infections annually and resulting in around 100,000 deaths. The financial burden of these infections on the healthcare system is staggering, estimated to be between $28 billion and $45 billion each year, as highlighted by research from the National Institute of Nursing Research.
One of the most overlooked yet impactful areas of infection control is the routine replacement of cubicle curtains in hospital settings. Infection Control Today has pointed out that these curtains, often considered low-risk, are among the “most touched and least regulated surfaces” in healthcare environments. A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control revealed alarming findings: privacy curtains can harbor resistant bacteria such as MRSA, with 87.5% of curtains testing positive for this dangerous pathogen by the 14th day of use. Despite this evidence, many hospitals only replace curtains when they appear visibly soiled. Experts recommend that hospitals adopt a proactive approach by changing these curtains at least once every quarter and utilizing electronic tracking systems to ensure compliance, a low-cost intervention that could significantly reduce infection transmission risks in patient rooms.
In addition to curtain replacement, hand hygiene remains a crucial yet chronic weak point in infection control. Despite extensive public health campaigns emphasizing the importance of handwashing, a disconnection persists between healthcare workers’ self-reported hand hygiene compliance and actual observed practices. For instance, operating-room staff reported a compliance rate of 73%, while endoscopy teams claimed 95%, yet direct observation revealed compliance rates as low as 11%. Furthermore, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are another prevalent HAI that can be effectively prevented through simple measures. Implementing nurse-driven protocols that allow nurses to remove unnecessary catheters without physician orders has shown significant success, reducing catheter use from 49.4% to 34.84% and halving the incidence of CAUTIs.
As hospitals continue to invest in advanced diagnostics and antimicrobial materials, infection-prevention experts emphasize that fundamental practices—such as proper hand hygiene, timely replacement of contaminated surfaces, and minimizing unnecessary medical devices—are essential to improving patient safety. These straightforward yet effective strategies not only save lives but also help reduce healthcare costs, underscoring the importance of returning to basics in the fight against hospital-acquired infections.
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
