[MCOH-EH] Furniture in Patient Care Areas

[Derrico, Barbara (IHS/OKC/LAW)]

http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/eic_in_HCF_03.pdf

Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities  Page 79-80
b. Cloth Furnishings Upholstered furniture and furnishings are becoming increasingly common in patient-care areas. These furnishings range from simple cloth chairs in patients' rooms to a complete decorating scheme that gives the interior of the facility more the look of an elegant hotel.1033 Even though pathogenic microorganisms have been isolated from the surfaces of cloth chairs, no epidemiologic evidence suggests that general patient-care areas with cloth furniture pose increased risks of health-care- 80 associated infection compared with areas that contain hard-surfaced furniture.1034, 1035 Allergens (e.g., dog and cat dander) have been detected in or on cloth furniture in clinics and elsewhere in hospitals in concentrations higher than those found on bed linens.1034, 1035 These allergens presumably are transferred from the clothing of visitors. Researchers have therefore suggested that cloth chairs should be vacuumed regularly to keep the dust and allergen levels to a minimum. This recommendation, however, has generated concerns that aerosols created from vacuuming could place immunocompromised patients or patients with preexisting lung disease (e.g., asthma) at risk for development of health-care-associated, environmental airborne disease.9, 20, 109, 988 Recovering worn, upholstered furniture (especially the seat cushion) with covers that are easily cleaned (e.g., vinyl), or replacing the item is prudent; minimizing the use of upholstered furniture and furnishings in any patientcare areas where immunosuppressed patients are located (e.g., HSCT units) reduces the likelihood of disease.9

This is from the CDC.  Link attached.  Hope this helps,

Barbara Derrico BSN RN
Lawton Indian Hospital
OR Supervisor
Office 2-35   2nd Floor  Day Surgery
Phone:  580-354-5454
Fax:  580-354-5212
Barbara.derrico at ihs.gov<mailto:Barbara.derrico at ihs.gov>
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From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Tara Dockery
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 8:14 PM
To: MCOH/EH
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Furniture in Patient Care Areas

Thank you for this.... My facility is struggling with some chairs with a mesh background they purchased for a conference room. The chairs at the nursing station were old, worn out, with holes, stuffing coming out and seams  ripped. I told them to replace those chairs (thinking impervious material, smooth surfaces) and they promptly replaced them with the mesh backed conference room chairs.. with lots of crevices for catching dust and biofilm.  As Infection Control I definitely don't approve of those chairs, as the holes can harbor organisms, however the purchasing department can find some documentation to say similar mesh backed chairs have an "antimicrobial finish". Sometimes its no fun to be the only one thinking what you are thinking....

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Hudson, T. Warner
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 8:18 AM
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh at mylist.net>>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Furniture in Patient Care Areas

There is a useful checklist attached to this link:

http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/article/weighing-your-furniture-options


T. Warner Hudson, MD FACOEM, FAAFP
Medical Director, Occupational and Employee Health
UCLA Health System and Campus
Office 310.825.9146
Fax 310.206.4585
Pager 800.233.7231  ID 27132
E-mail twhudson at mednet.ucla.edu<mailto:twhudson at mednet.ucla.edu>
Website www.ohs.uclahealth.org<http://www.ohs.uclahealth.org>

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Wintermeyer, Stephen F.
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 5:18 AM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net<mailto:mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Furniture in Patient Care Areas

I am looking at purchasing some new furniture for patient care areas in my clinic.  I have looked on the CDC website for Infection Control guidelines for purchasing such furniture.  I cannot find any such guidelines.

If you have Infection Control guidelines for selecting furniture for patient care areas, I would appreciate your sharing them with me.

Thank you.

Stephen Wintermeyer, MD, MPH
Director
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Campus Health
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Coleman Hall, Suite 100
1140 West Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN  46202
317-274-8214

[IUPUI_ACR.H]


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