You have requested access to member only content.

Study: Using Bed Barriers Cuts Down on C. diff

A new study has achieved a reduction in Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal system that affects up to 500,000 people annually in hospitals.

The study, conducted by researchers at Xavier University in Cincinnati and Bon Secours Mercy Health Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Kentucky, achieved an almost 60% decrease in infections, which is double the nationwide reduction goal established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study was conducted at a 158-bed acute care hospital in Ashland, Kentucky, between April 2016 and October 2018.

“The [barrier] provided a mattress surface free of pathogenic bacteria and C. difficile spores for each patient,” according to the study authors. “The success of the laundry process in disinfecting the [barrier] was likely due to it being fabric coated with polyurethane, which allowed the laundry process to successfully remove the C. difficile spores.”

This is an excerpt from members-only content. Please log in or become a member to access the full content.

Not a member? Let's fix that!

A membership to Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center provides accreditation and safety professionals with a collection of continuously updated tools, best-practice strategies, and compliance tips developed by industry experts. With two membership options, you can customize your access level depending on your education and training needs.

Register to access the free content available on the site or become a member today. Click here for more information.

For questions and support, please call customer service: 800-650-6787.