There are many reasons why hospitals use curtains. They separate the sickbeds, maximize the ward space, provide privacy for patients, and strengthen infection control. Curtains are one of the most accessible surfaces in hospitals, which means they are the host of various bacteria.

Hospitals use different kinds of curtains, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. The curtain is connected with the lattice track, which is basically a large curtain track bent around the bed.

Fabric curtain

Traditionally, fabric curtains were used in hospital wards. The problem with fabric curtains is that they can’t be wiped clean. This means that bacteria are about to accumulate. The fabric is easy to get dirty by body fluids, and the curtain will also be damaged due to daily wear and tear.

In order to clean the curtains, the hospital spent a lot of time and money cleaning them regularly. Just cleaning the curtains of a hospital will produce a lot of carbon emissions every year, so think about the impact of this process on the world.

Disposable curtain

In recent years, disposable curtains have been widely used by hospitals around the world, and fabric curtains have been gradually eliminated. Disposable curtains mean that disposable curtains will not be used for cleaning. On the contrary, if they are at their best, they will be dealt with. Good manufacturers print their own audit labels on their disposable curtains. The hospital staff can use this label to record the time when the curtain was last replaced and the next time it needs to be replaced.

During the pandemic, people used disposable curtains extensively to control airborne viruses. Disposable curtains are very effective in preventing hospital infection, and are very suitable for acute hospitals that need to change curtains quickly and regularly. During the pandemic, hospitals passed thousands of disposable curtains, resulting in high processing costs. Depending on the manufacturer, some disposable curtains can be recycled, while others cannot.

Reusable curtains

Another option for hospitals is reusable curtains, usually made of PVC. Reusable curtains are non absorbable, which means they can be cleaned with detergent without getting dirty. This saves a lot of time because hospital staff do not need to open, clean or replace new curtains.

Buy recyclable curtains from well-known manufacturers, which can be used for several years. This means that it is more cost-effective than disposable curtains and more beneficial to the environment. But some medical experts believe that, compared with disposable curtains, reusable curtains are not so effective in preventing the spread of infection.

abstract

Disposable and reusable curtains provide a higher level of infection control than fabric curtains. With the climate crisis becoming more and more urgent, hospitals should consider the impact of different curtains on the environment. Some manufacturers produce 100% reusable curtains, while others produce huge plastic waste All.