Effect of copper-impregnated linens on multidrug-resistant organism acquisition and Clostridium difficile infection at a long-term acute-care hospital

Abstract

Copper-impregnated surfaces and linens have been shown to reduce infections and multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) acquisition in healthcare settings. However, retrospective analyses of copper linen deployment at a 40-bed long-term acute-care hospital demonstrated no significant reduction in incidences of healthcare facility-onset Clostridium difficile infection or MDRO acquisition.

Antibiotics resistance and mitigation strategies in healthcare settings: A scoping review

“…The key outcome measures reported across the studies included consumption of targeted antimicrobials and/ or associated costs 112,113,132,[114][115][116][117]122,123,128,131 , incidence of Clostridium difficile 112,113,[123][124][125]127,[114][115][116][117][119][120][121][122] or incidence and/ resistance rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae 128,129,144,[130][131][132][133][134]137,139,143 as well as risk on other HCAIs 114,121,123,127,130,137,139 . Additional outcomes included containment of an outbreak of the targeted organisms 135,136,138,[140][141][142]…”

“…32.4% (11) of the studies were conducted in the United States of America 115,118,141,146,[119][120][121][122]124,126,127,136 whereas two studies each are based in Canada 112,114 and Greece 135,137…”

“…Bedside consultations involved a part-time infectious diseases expert reviewing patients on antibiotic treatment three times a week and discussing the same with attending physicians 113 . This was coupled with revising antimicrobial treatment protocols and educating staff on reducing the inappropriate use of antimicrobials 113 Lastly, two quasi-experiments involved replacing hospital linen with coper oxide impregnated bedsheets, pillow cases, washcloths, and towels 119,120 . This is because of copper's biocidal activity on some drug resistant bacteria including Clostridium difficile.…”

“…Fourteen studies reported the impact of the interventions on the risk for CDIs or other healthcare associated infections 112,113,[123][124][125]127,[114][115][116][117][119][120][121][122] . Two studies involving the use of biocidal linen impregnated with copper oxide reported contradictory findings which could be partly due to the differences in study settings.…”

Antimicrobial Medical Textiles Used in Clinical Settings May Play an Important Role in Reducing Healthcare-Acquired Infections

“…More importantly, several studies [23,39,42,[44][45][46][47][48][49] conducted with antimicrobial medical textiles (mostly medical textiles containing copper oxide), with exception of one study, demonstrated a significant reduction of HAIs in the study arm using the antimicrobial medical textiles (Figure 2). While additional studies may be needed to better understand the effect of antimicrobial medical textiles and reduction of HAIs in different medical settings, the described studies in Figures 1 and 2 overall have given significant support to the notion that biocidal textiles used in clinical settings may be an important adjunct in the fight against HAIs.…”