The use of biocidal copper oxide-impregnated linens significantly reduced certain healthcare-associated infections, including infections caused by Clostridium difficile, according to a study published in Journal of Hospital Infection.
Researchers examined rates of HAIs caused by C. diff and multidrug-resistant organisms in six Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare hospitals. They studied and compared the HAI rates in three parallel intervention periods of 90, 180 and 240 days as well as three before and after periods. The intervention involved replacing all the regular non-biocidal linens with the copper oxide-impregnated biocidal linens.
While comparing the three before periods with the three after periods, researchers found:
• A 61.2 percent drop in C. diff-linked HAIs per 10,000 patient-days between the first before and after period
• A 41.1 percent drop between the second before and after period
• A 42.9 percent drop between the third before and after period
Additionally, researchers found:
• A 48.3 percent drop in multidrug-resistant organism-linked HAIs per 10,000 patient-days between the first before and after period
• A 36.4 percent drop between the second before and after period
• A 19.2 percent drop between the third before and after period
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