Background
The annual incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the United States is estimated to be 330,000 cases. We evaluated
the impact of using a launderable mattress and bed deck cover on the incidence of
hospital-onset CDI in 2 long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs).
Methods
Two LTACHs began using a launderable mattress and bed deck cover on beds starting
in May 2013. One facility had 74 beds, and the other had 30 beds. Covers were changed
after every patient. The covers were laundered using hot water, detergent, and chlorine.
Rates for CDIs were compared using Poisson regression between the 16 months before
use of the launderable cover and the 14 months after the cover started being used.
Results
At hospital A, the use of bedcovers reduced the rate of infection by 47.8% (95% confidence
interval [CI], 47.1-48.6), controlling for the rate of handwashing compliance and
length of stay in days. At hospital B, the use of bedcovers reduced the rate of infection
by 50% (95% CI, 47.5-52.7), controlling for the rate of handwashing compliance and
length of stay in days.
Conclusion
The use of a launderable cover for mattresses and bed decks of hospital beds was associated
with a decreased rate of health care–associated CDI in 2 LTACHs.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 20, 2015
Footnotes
Funding/Support: This project was supported by an Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award, NIH/NCRR (grant no. 8UL1-TR000077).
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
