The efficacy of self-disinfecting bedrail covers in an intensive care unit

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Lisa M. Esolen, Lokendra Thakur, Abraham J. Layon, Thomas A. Fuller, Deni-Jo Harrington, Kunal Jha, Subhashinie Kariyawasam
BackgroundHospital surfaces are considered important vectors in the spread of nosocomial pathogens. This study evaluated microbial counts on novel antimicrobial bedrail covers over a 2-week period in a critical care environment.MethodsDisposable bedrail covers (Aionx Inc, Hershey, PA) made of a copper and silver polymer and capable of conducting an imperceptible surface potential, were installed in a case-control manner on a series of occupied intensive care unit beds. Seventeen bedrails were covered with the study bedrail surface, and 17 were left uncovered. Two hundred seventy-two microbial surface cultures were obtained from both study and control bedrails and analyzed for microbial growth by bacterial enumeration and speciation.ResultsThe bedrails covered with the study surface demonstrated >80% average decrease in colony forming units across the study period of 15 days.ConclusionsThese novel, detachable bedrail covers successfully demonstrated significant bacterial count reduction in an intensive care unit setting. This may have implications for acquisition of hospital-acquired infections.



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