How Sentara hospitals used copper to drop infection rates

Copper-infused patient gowns, pillowcases, bed sheets, blankets and towels helped decrease infection rates at six hospitals owned by Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare, a study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection found.

Advertisement

The researchers compared healthcare-associated infection rates in six Sentara Healthcare hospitals in three parallel periods before and after replacing regular linens with copper-infused ones.

Using the products by Cupron — a copper-based antimicrobial technology company — significantly decreased occurrences of Clostridium difficile infections and infections caused by multidrug resistant organisms such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, the study found.

“This study of Cupron’s medical textiles alone validates their effectiveness in preventing hospital-acquired infections in a real world clinical setting, along with a robust infection prevention protocol,” Jacque Butler, director of infection control and prevention at Sentara Healthcare, told CBS-affiliated television station WTKR.

More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Adverse events more common in racial, ethnic minorities
5 hospitals in the spotlight for patient safety issues — and how they’re fixing them
Antibiotic resistance linked to widespread, infrequent use

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

When nurses help build the AI, adoption follows: Lessons from 3 health systems

Tuesday, July 28
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Amy McCarthy, DNP, RNC-MNN, NE-BC, CENP, Hippocratic AIBeth Reimschissel, PhD, RN, CNL, Memorial HermannAllison Schlinkert, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Cincinnati Children'sScott Estep, MBOE, BSN, RN, CSSBB, OhioHealth System

Advertisement

Next Up in Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Advertisement

Comments are closed.