Assessment of bacterial contamination on antimicrobial disposable curtains compared to fabric curtains in intensive care unit patients at a university hospital setting

Abstract

Background Hospital privacy curtains represent high-touch surfaces frequently implicated in the transmission of health care-associated pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological efficacy and cost-effectiveness of antimicrobial disposable curtains compared to conventional polyester fabric curtains in an intensive care unit setting. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted from July to October 2024. In the experimental group, antimicrobial disposable curtains were sampled on days 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 post-installation. In the control group, composed of standard 100% polyester fabric curtains, sampling occurred on days 0, 15, and then at 30-day intervals. For both groups, additional sampling was performed following patient discharge under contact precautions to assess in-use contamination levels. Results Curtains in the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower bacterial contamination than controls at all time points ( P < .001). Peak contamination in the control group reached 2.1 CFU/cm² at day 30, whereas experimental curtains maintained contamination below 0.2 CFU/cm² throughout. Cost analysis revealed a 59.42% reduction in cumulative curtain-related expenditures in the experimental group. Conclusions Antimicrobial disposable curtains offer superior microbial control and substantial cost savings. Integration of such curtains into infection prevention protocols may enhance environmental hygiene and resource optimization in critical care settings.