KleenEdge

Your hospital EVS team meticulously cleans and disinfects all high-touch surfaces, but what about privacy curtains? Studies show these curtains are frequently contaminated with dangerous pathogens, sometimes within days or even hours of being installed. KleenEdge's automated curtain tracking leverages RFID technology so facilities can monitor and change curtains per policy -- for real compliance, real patient peace of mind, and real patient safety.. Let's work together to close the loop on this overlooked gap in patient and staff safety. Learn more about how our software can help your facility at https://lnkd.in/ghrEkghd #PrivacyCurtains #KleenEdge #CurtainProtocol #PatientSafety

n the daily role of providing a clean and attractive patient room that leads to infection prevention and patient satisfaction, most Environmental Services (EST) Technicians have seen their share of unattractive privacy curtains hanging around for FAR too long! Here’s why EST workers love our no-ladder KleenEdge Privacy Curtain solutions and software: ✅ Terminal clean of an isolation room no longer depends on a “man and a ladder', anyone can do it! ✅ The “ladder person” is more productive at their assigned daily tasks (typically it's the floor or trash tech that gets pulled away aka "job creep") ✅ Contaminated curtains are exchanged from “Dirty” to clean and recorded on their device in just a few minutes (easy peasy, it works just like Apple pay) Best of all no more questions by patients about “brown stains” on visibly soiled curtains. Thank goodness the patient doesn’t have to wonder, “If they can’t change a soiled curtain, what else do I need to worry about?” Time and time again we get a 👍 as everyone agrees that the benefits of having their clean patient room enhanced by the crisply pleated and matching curtains is a win-win for all! https://lnkd.in/gqQMFeYM #patientsafety #staffsafety #hospitals #healthcare #HCAHPS

Way back in 2019 the alarm bells were ringing around the risks posed to patients by traditional privacy curtains. So here's the question -- "Have you changed your practice & protocol around privacy curtains to mitigate this risk?" If not, we'd love to help you and your health system make it happen today. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gApHdSNF Tired of not knowing when your curtains were last exchanged and whether they are compliant, contact us for help at https://lnkd.in/gwE9qaMU #hospitals #patientsafety #curtains #InfectionRisks #InfectionPrevention #HAIs

Best practice protocol for privacy curtains lists as our top topic when speaking with healthcare facilities. Curtains truly remain the "Elephant in the Room", and EVS directors readily admit that their current exchange protocols cannot withstand regulatory scrutiny... Now may be a good time to review your policy as new TJC "Infection Control" guidelines were effective July 1, 2024. #hospitals #patientsafety #healthcare #thejointcommission https://lnkd.in/gbex6Bcb

“Dirty Curtain”! These two words mean different things to different people in a hospital: ▶️ To a patient or their loved one, a visibly soiled curtain can mean "Germs! Don't touch it. I’m going to talk to somebody in administration." ▶️ To someone in administration a patient complaint about a dirty curtain gets sent to somebody that needs to investigate this matter immediately; more often prompting a call to the Infection Preventionist. ▶️ “Dirty curtain” potentially are the two words that make most infection preventionists shudder. The reason these curtains induce headaches in infection prevention and control programs is that they are very much aware that curtains inherently are touched by everyone, and that unlike counters or medical devices, they require laundering and replacement to be "clean". Frequently touched with dirty hands before and after interacting with patients and/or the environment, these curtains—like any object, but especially a porous fabric one, are ripe for microbial contamination. When determining the best practice for cleaning curtains, infection preventionists often receive pushback from the Environmental Services leaders who understandably have their own issues with curtains such as: ➡️ It takes 45+ minutes to replace them due to ceiling-mounted systems (requiring them to get on ladders or stepstools / staff safety & staff shortage issues). ➡️ Human resources dedicated to managing complex inventories and (sometimes) up to 40 curtain, mesh, etc. sku levels. Nonetheless, as everyone throughout the facility will immediately recognize: A patient’s complaint about a “Dirty Curtain” in their room rises to the level of needing immediate action… While in the past specific guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were vague in that they advised that curtains should be cleaned when "visibly soiled or stained", it is extremely important for facilities to establish firm laundering or replacement practices for privacy curtains now as the rules are changing... But let's just bottom-line it, rules or no rules.. reducing the risk of infection associated with contaminated surfaces and objects is a critical part of patient safety. Crisp, clean, privacy curtains create a safe patient environment most importantly, but they also leave a positive impression on patients that promotes trust and confidence in their overall care. We are excited that The Joint Commission adopted CDC's Standard for the Near Patient Environment as of July 1st, 2024. With an increased scrutiny surrounding curtain exchange protocols and proof of compliance they effectively are pulling curtains (along with their associated patient infection risks) into the limelight! 👍 www.KleenEdge.com #patientsafety #healthcare #hospitals #privacycurtains #curtains

To reuse or not to reuse privacy curtains? In recent years there’s been growing hype surrounding the perceived infection control advantages of disposable privacy curtains in hospitals, but are we overlooking the benefits afforded by reusable curtains? 🔺While disposable privacy curtains are great for high infection areas where it’s important to be able to gather up all items for incineration, research gathered over the past decade suggests that the physical environment can significantly improve patient outcomes and expedite patient wellness and recovery. 🔺A less “clinical” physical environment helps patients relax and recover quicker, therefore in patient rooms and other treatment areas it’s important to create an “at home” feel. Reusable privacy curtains made of woven fabric add warmth and improve acoustic amenity, resulting in a dignified atmosphere conducive to patient recovery. Given the above, decision makers face a dilemma when it comes to balancing infection control, ease of use, and patient health outcomes. The relative efficiency of each curtain type depends largely on the Infection Prevention policies of individual hospitals, including policies relating to exchange protocols, as well as acceptable levels of soiling and washing standards. These variables as well as the unpredictability of isolation room exchanges, or the curtain frequently being removed for stained/soiled before it’s due for periodic replacement, (resulting in higher washing and/or disposal fees) makes it almost impossible to produce exact figures that apply across the board. Here some interesting data: ↗️All groups surveyed felt that disposable privacy curtains were more effective for infection control, mostly in high-risk areas. The general feeling is that hospitals are slowly moving towards complete adoption of disposable privacy curtains in all areas looking for cost savings and standardization. Our feelings are that reusable curtains will continue to play a role in US hospitals but that a hybrid approach of reusable and disposable curtains, especially in high-risk areas, might present the best path forward. www.KleenEdge.com #patientsafety #healthcare #hospitals #privacycurtains #curtains #circulareconomy

Specific guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remain vague in that they advise privacy curtains should be exchanged when “visibly soiled or stained,” but little else. Frankly, without a firm guideline, hospitals struggle with finding a process to establish curtain exchange practices: ▶️ Should the curtains be exchanged after each patient is discharged? ▶️ How does the process work in a shared room? ▶️ Should the curtains be replaced if the patient is in contact, airborne or droplet precaution isolation? Equally important, if laundering or exchanging curtains is based on isolation, how is the exchange monitored? Is the exchange from soiled to clean and fresh monitored and shared electronically with stakeholders in real time? If not, why not? There should be clear guidelines for Monitoring Privacy Curtains in the "Patient Hot Zone".. 🔺The fact that the number of curtains found to have MRSA increased over time underscores the need to implement curtain exchange practices that focus on these items. 🔺Studies have noted that by day 14, most curtains tested positive for MRSA; these data could be utilized for policy recommendations that all privacy curtains in high-risk areas be exchanged around that timeframe. 🔺The high microbial contamination at high-risk locations by day 21 suggests that policies/practices should ensure that no privacy curtain goes beyond that window for refreshing. Overall studies highlight the importance of establishing firm exchange practices for privacy curtains as reducing the risk of infection associated with contaminated surfaces and objects is a critical part of patient safety. What say you? www.KleenEdge.com #patientsafety #healthcare #hospitals #privacycurtains #curtains #mrsa

Healthcare facility privacy curtains are on the radar with The Joint Commission adapting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's standard for Near Patient Environment starting July 1st! We all know that effective and consistent cleaning and disinfection of the patient environment are essential in reducing the incidence of HAIs. Have you considered whether your curtain exchange frequencies are adequate and able to withstand regulatory scrutiny especially in high-risk areas? Consider this: ➡ Everyone touches the curtain ➡ Studies show they become contaminated after 2 weeks (MRSA, C.diff, VRE, etc.) ➡ Due to manual documentation many facilities do not know when they last exchanged their curtains ➡ Curtains remain in place for too long posing significant patient and staff safety risk Our KleenEdge curtain protocol software works with all curtain types and is easy to implement. With a quick 3-second scan your team can stop handwriting dates on labels and having to manually record in an EVS curtain log binder. The benefits are immediate: ▶ Automated reminders telling you exactly what, where, when (and which quantities) you need per location ▶ Data on all exchange protocols; Periodic, Soiled/Stained, and ISO Wouldn’t it be great to instantaneously know that your facility is compliant? www.KleenEdge.com #compliance #patientsafety #hospitals #healthcare

What Will This Flu Season Bring.. 🔥COVID is still going around; what variant are we on? 🔥Should I get my tri-variant flu vaccine this year? The seasonal flu joins the latest COVID variant and remains unpredictable at this early stage. It's inevitable that hospitalizations for both viruses will begin ticking up. When either respiratory condition necessitates hospitalization, patients are placed on Transmission-Based Precautions (TBP). At a glance: ↗️ Transmission-Based Precautions are the second tier of basic infection control and are to be used in addition to Standard Precautions for patients who may be infected or colonized with certain infectious agents for which additional precautions are needed to prevent infection transmission. ↗️ Use Droplet Precautions for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens that are transmitted by respiratory droplets that are generated by a person who is coughing, sneezing or talking. ↗️ Whenever possible, use disposable items such as recyclable privacy curtains in your high-risk, high-turnover, areas. ↗️ Dedicate patient-care equipment for patients on Transmission-based Precautions. If non-critical patient care items (e.g., blood pressure cuffs) must be shared, make sure that these items are cleaned and disinfected prior to use on the next patient. 💡 As always, isolation protocols should include removing and replacing privacy curtains during a terminal cleaning. We don't know what this respiratory illness season will bring, but be prepared for Wild and hope for a Mild season. www.KleenEdge.com #patientsafety #healthcare #hospitals #privacycurtains #curtains #circulareconomy

Fom.i.tes: Objects or materials which are likely to carry infection such as fabrics and furniture. Acting as a fomite, privacy curtains have been found to sustain pathogens and microorganisms that can be transferred between staff and patients. These pathogens can survive on soft surfaces for an extended period, sometimes lasting up to several months. A review of existing studies shows that reusable privacy curtains pose a high risk for cross-contamination because they are frequently touched yet infrequently exchanged. 🔥 Numerous human pathogens have been identified in hospital and clinic curtains. These include Micrococcus species (sp.), Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus. 🔥 🔥Some of these bacteria may persist even after laundering of curtains and become potential causes of infectious diseases, particularly in hospitalized patients with attenuated immune systems. 🔥 🔥 🔥More than 20% of 1,500 samples taken from six post-acute care nursing facilities in the United States were laced with one or more dangerous bacteria after just 2 weeks, including the hospital bug Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA), researchers found. 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥Nearly 20,000 MRSA-related deaths occurred in the US in 2022, most of them from Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), according to the US Centers for Disease Control. In addition to traditional resistance mechanisms, a special feature of S. aureus pathogenesis is its ability to survive on both biotic and abiotic surfaces in the biofilm state. Due to this characteristic, S. aureus is a leading cause of human infection. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in particular has emerged as a widespread cause of both community- and hospital-acquired infections. Currently, MRSA is responsible for 10-fold more infections than all multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens combined. 👉🏼 Recently, MRSA was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of twelve priority pathogens that threaten human health. In this targeted mini-review, we discuss MRSA biofilm production, the relationship of biofilm production to antibiotic resistance, and front-line techniques to defeat the biofilm-resistance system. 💡Based on this we feel that it is imperative for health-care facilities to set an appropriate frequency of changing bedside curtains and promote contact hygiene to minimize a risk of bacteria transmission. This should be based on patient discharge and the institutional prevalence of microbial pathogens such as MRSA. It is crucial to adapt decontamination protocols to ensure effective elimination of microbes from hospital curtains. Are YOUR curtains contaminated with MRSA; most likely. Should you change curtains more often than 1x a year and following every terminal clean; most definitely. www.KleenEdge.com #patientsafety #healthcare #hospitals #privacycurtains #curtains