The last thing hospitals want is for their patients to contract secondary infections while admitted to their facilities. To avoid this, many have started making efforts in disinfecting commonly touched surfaces like privacy curtains, remote controls, bedside tables, and bedrails. Aside from minimizing the risk of transmitting infections, the practice gives patients and visitors peace of mind, knowing the area is clean and sanitary. In order for these measures to be effective, each one must be targeted to a specific risk factor.
More often than not, strict cleaning and disinfection protocols can do wonders to minimize the risks of contracting a secondary infection from these surfaces. However, it's especially tricky when it comes to room divider curtains, and extra measures must be taken.
Use antimicrobial privacy curtains
The rate at which microorganisms grow depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to the surface they are on. When it comes to medical curtains, microorganisms wind up being able to bond readily with the fibers, resulting in the growth of a bacterial colony. These organisms then spread until they are able to infect an organism. Luckily, certain fabrics can discourage microbes from becoming attached, making them more difficult to breed and grow.
Instead of using the same curtains as those in homes, hospitals can manage infection risks by using antimicrobial material. The fabric’s properties prevent the spread of infections on surfaces that are prone to them. This is increasingly becoming a common practice in the construction of new restroom facilities, and the same kinds of gains can be made by using antimicrobial privacy curtains in a hospital setting.
Source the best fabrics
The efforts made by a hospital's staff can only go so far. The staff in charge of procuring the supplies have a huge contribution, too. They need to make sure that they are sourcing the best and most effective solutions for the staff on the floor working with patients.
Tips for choosing the right fabric for your room divider curtain
Hospitals have long used this type of curtain to create a barrier that protects the patients' dignity and privacy while also helping the staff maintain a sterile environment. They have to be sturdy enough to weather the demands of heavy use. Given the importance of these curtains, hospitals and clinics must have a supplier that is able to deliver a product best suited to their needs.
What to look for in hospital curtains
At the very least, your hospital curtains should exhibit the following be thick, heavy, and durable enough to deal with the following:
- Heavy and repeated use by a large number of people
- Stains, odors, fluids, and other possible contaminants
- Disinfectants
- Microbial attacks, infections, and colonization
What's more, when looking for a heavy-duty hospital curtain, you also need to look at the following features:
- Flame-retardant material
- Antimicrobial
- Anti-static, given that static buildup can interfere with hospital equipment
- Hypoallergenic
- Free of any heavy metals that could cause a toxic reaction
Conclusion
Choosing hospital curtains or room divider curtains for your health facility can be daunting at times. You have to take not only the quality and durability of the product into account but also its capability to ward off germs and bacteria. After all, this is an important step in ensuring patients and staff remain safe. If you’re looking for hospital curtains in the UK, get in touch with Direct Fabrics today! We’re happy to help.