Maintenance costs to remove and replace cubicle curtains in hospitals and healthcare facilities can be costly in terms of labor and laundering. But without frequent laundering, standard cubicle curtains can transfer some of the worst healthcare acquired infections including Staph, MRSA, E-Coli, C-Diff and others. They are often the prime suspects in the spread of infections due to constant hand contact.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York, compared standard privacy curtains to anti-microbial privacy curtains to assess their anti-microbial activity and calculate the direct and indirect costs associated with maintaining them.

For the study, the direct cost of purchasing two samples of anti-microbial curtains (Shield™ from InPro Corporation) and one sample of a standard curtain was recorded. The curtains were evaluated for anti-microbial activity by placing fabric samples directly onto Mueller Hinton agar inoculated with clinical isolates or quality control organisms.

Anti-microbial activity was measured using the disc diffusion method as per Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Control discs were: vancomycin for Staphyloccocus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and enterococci; chloramphenicol for VRE, and meropenem for gram-negative bacteria.

A total of 15 clinical and ATCC quality control organisms, including MRSA, VRE, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Enterobacter cloacae and A. baumannii, were tested. One of the anti-microbial fabrics exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity comparable to that of an antibiotic control disc, while the other showed much less activity. No anti-microbial activity was detected with the standard sample.

As far as the indirect costs calculated in the study, laundering and maintenance were taken into account. Westchester, a teaching hospital with 634 beds, changes hospital curtains quarterly for all rooms, whenever visibly soiled and at room discharges for isolation cases. The routine laundering of hospital curtains for visible soiling and quarterly was not included in this calculation, because Westchester would continue these procedures regardless of the curtain type. The number of isolation discharges and the average wage of the environmental services staff were used to calculate the indirect costs of laundering curtains and staff time. The cost associated with a vacant room during a curtain change for isolation discharges was also estimated and figured in as an indirect cost.

The results?  The successful anti-microbial cubicle curtain showed in-vitro activity against hospital pathogens that was comparable to that of an antibiotic disc. This suggests the use of anti-microbial cubicle curtains can be an effective way to prevent the spread of infections. A further study will be necessary to test the anti-microbial curtain efficacy in clinical situations and over time.

The study also indicated that the use of anti-microbial hospital curtains provides an opportunity to avert costs related to isolation-based curtain changing and laundering. Despite the fact that the initial expense for anti-microbial curtains was more than double that of the standard curtain, there was an estimated initial year cost savings of $50,612 because the use of anti-microbial curtains removed the practice of routinely changing curtains. The elimination of laundering, labor time and room vacancy uncovered an additional $139,138 that can be saved every subsequent year. Although these savings may vary per hospital, the study at Westchester proved that anti-microbial cubicle curtains are not only a smart economical choice over time, but also a crucial element in healthcare infection control.

For a detailed breakdown of the costs referenced in this study, download the Shield™ Cubicle Curtain Return on Investment (ROI) Analysis.

Case study researched by Westchester Medical Center staff: Georgeta Rinck, RN, MPH; Janet P. Haas, DNSc, RN, CIC; Guiqing Wang, Ph.D.; Marisa A. Montecalvo, MD; Damon deChamplain

1. Specification – The correct expansion joint system and fire barrier need to be specified for the application. Application includes joint size, loading, movement, rating, etc. Problems occur when the system selected does not meet the requirements of the application.
2. Installation – Installation is compromised when the joint materials are damaged or don’t fit altogether and installers have to stuff thicker systems into a joint opening. If the joint opens and is not sealed correctly, fireproofing could be compromised.
3. Construction – If poured concrete blockouts are formed improperly and are not fixed prior to the installation of expansion joint systems and fire barriers, ratings are at risk. The joint systems and fire barriers cannot be installed in the field as they were in the test chamber which could ultimately nullify the rating.

Commercial Paint

Yes, commercial paint can be considered wall protection for high traffic areas that experience light abuse like scuffing or scratching. Today’s commercial paints and primers can be considerably durable and some surpass rigorous scrub testing to qualify for high durability ratings. Look for a commercial paint that:

• Is Master Painters Institute (MPI) Certified
• Has a high scrub rating as tested by ASTM-D2486
• Has excellent stain removal and scratch resistance properties
• Is low or no VOC; or Green Seal™ Certified
• Can be matched to the colors of your facility
• Contains Microban® or is antimicrobial. This is not a requirement, but very useful in healthcare and education environments.

Rigid Vinyl Sheet

Depending on the thickness of the sheet you use, rigid vinyl is appropriate for most wall protection applications. Applying rigid vinyl sheet over a wall is a much better alternative to repainting or worse yet, replacing drywall every time damage occurs. Different heights allow you to clad an entire wall or up to a certain point on a wall, like wainscoting.

Rigid sheet is often preferred because it is durable, long lasting and easy to clean. It is available in tons of different finishes from solid colors to patterns and even woodgrains. Vinyl sheet can be installed to blend in with its surroundings or be used as a design element like a beadboard wall panel that is capped with an elegant chair rail. Top caps and trim pieces that coordinate with rigid sheet conceal seams and finish corners and edges making installation easier.

PVC rigid vinyl sheet used to be the norm as far as sheet material. With more emphasis on sustainable building products, non-PVC vinyl sheet wall panels are also available – some including recycled content – such such as PC/ABS and BioPolyPETG+™, which are eco-friendly versions.  When looking for vinyl sheet, here are some common questions to ask:

• Is the sheet manufactured by the company I’m ordering from to ensure short lead times and color and quality control?
• Are there experts on hand at the company I’m ordering from to help if I should have installation questions or need to determine the thickness of sheet I need?
• Will the company come to my facility to take measurements so I can be assured the proper amount will be ordered?
• Does the rigid vinyl sheet come in colors and finishes that coordinate with my facility?
• If other elements are needed such as corner guards, handrails and door frame guards, can they coordinate with the rigid vinyl sheet?
• Is it available in an environmentally friendly option or is it at least recyclable?
• Can the sheet be shipped quickly in case I need more or need to quickly replace a section?

Diamond Plate Sheet

Diamond plate sheet provides heavy-duty protection in areas such as loading docks and other back-of-house areas. The sheets are easy to cut and mount to the wall with fasteners. Diamond plate sheet has an industrial look and is not often used in general, highly-visible areas.

Solid Surface Wall Cladding

Solid surface wall panels create sterile surgical suites and exam rooms because they are non-porous and do not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria. While solid surface can be fabricated to any application, it is a high-end solution best suited where sterile areas are required or as part of an elegant room design.  Solid surface is perfect for bathrooms, corridors, clean rooms, food service and reception areas and is easy to clean.

Quartz Wall Cladding

Quartz engineered stone is perhaps the mother of wall protection and certainly one of the most luxurious. Quartz is non-porous like solid surface, which is great for sterile environments. But it is also extremely hard, which makes it scratch, stain and heat resistant. This makes quartz low maintenance for any application and can be fabricated to meet any need.

The gauge illustrates the different levels of vertical wall protection available.

InPro Corporation was the first company in Division 10 to bring you our products in the major BIM formats. InPro BIM Products are:

• Available on AutoDesk Seek, CADdetails.com, Reed SmartBIM and inprocorp.com
• Offered in Standard Definition and High Definition models in Revit so you can choose the levels of appearance and functionality

Why choose BIM for your next building project?

• Increase your ROI
  • Greater collaboration at the concept stage resulting in fewer issues at prevailing wage
  • Reduction in Change Orders
  • Quicker and more precise construction

What is BIM?

Over the next five years or so, the entire building design and construction industry will be engaged in a major revolution thanks to a new computer-based system called BIM – Building Information Modeling.

BIM is used to render a complete 3-dimensional (3D) model of a building with all of the information related to it – things like heating system design and capacity, electrical system features and loads, building material specs, etc.

Calculating future sustainability successes with BIM:

• Energy Performance – Designers and Contractors are calculating how certain design changes can increase the energy efficiency of a structure over the life of its service
• Lighting Analysis – Many of those same Designers and Contractors are studying how light will affect their structures finding ways to increase efficiency and making more pleasant, habitable spaces
• Renewable Energy & Carbon Emission Analysis – Studying the long term effects of a structure can include environmental impact studies showing the benefits of renewable energy and the anticipated carbon emissions over the lifecycle of the building
• Paperless Construction – We think, visualize, and see in 3D; we’ve spent thousands of years transferring that information into a 2D format to tell the next person what we’re thinking; With BIM we don’t have to do that – we can do it all without printing a page