During a hospital visit, do NOT touch this common surface
Hands off the curtains!
The next time you visit a hospital, remember those four words. They could save you a world of misery.
Bacteria control is one of the most difficult challenges faced by hospital staffs. That’s why hand-washing by staff members and visitors is critical. Don’t even THINK about leaving a hospital without first washing your hands.
And while you’re there — say it with me — Hands off the curtains!
University of Iowa researchers took dozens of swab cultures from more than 40 hospital privacy curtains over three weeks.
Results: Uh oh…
* Nearly every curtain was contaminated at least once during testing
* The “vast majority” were contaminated with “potentially significant bacteria” within a week of being hung
* Many curtains were hanging for three weeks and longer
* The MRSA “superbug” was found on 20 percent of the curtains
* A high rate of other antibiotic-resistant microbes were also found
Researchers advise doctors and staff to pull the curtain, THEN wash hands — not the other way around (which, apparently, happens all the time).
As for hospital visitors — wash hands frequently. And…well, you know where NOT to put your hands.
Sources:
“Hospital privacy curtains laden with germs: study” Fran Lowry, Reuters, 9/22/11, reuters.com
