Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Reduction of healthcare-associated infections in a long-term care brain injury ward by replacing regular linens with biocidal copper oxide impregnated linens

2^nd International Conference on Clinical Microbiology & Microbial Genomics

September 16-17, 2013 Hampton Inn Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Gadi Borkow

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol

Abstract:

Background: Contaminated textiles in hospitals contribute to endogenous, indirect-contact, and aerosol transmission of nosocomial related pathogens. Copper oxide impregnated linens have wide spectrum antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Our aim was to determine if replacing non-biocidal linens to biocidal copper oxide impregnated linens would reduce the rates of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in a long-term care ward. Methods: We compared the rates of HAI in two analogous patients�? cohorts in a head injury care ward in two 6-months parallel periods before (Period A) and after (Period B) replacing all the regular non-biocidal linens and personnel uniforms with copper oxide impregnated biocidal products. Results: During Period B, in comparison to Period A, there was a 24% reduction in the HAI per 1000 hospitalization days (HD) (P<0.05), a 47% reduction in the number of fever days (>38.5°C) per 1000 HD (P<0.01), and a 32.8% reduction in total number of days of antibiotics administration per 1000 HD (P<0.0001). Accordingly there was a 19.8% and 25% reduction of antibiotics and disposable products expenses per 1000 HD, respectively, during period B.