As the UK faces another rise in respiratory infections, renewed attention is turning to an enduring challenge: hospital-acquired infections (HCAIs). While COVID-19 remains a concern, the broader issue of infection transmission within healthcare environments continues to demand sustained vigilance.
A recent BBC report noted that hospitals have reinstated mask requirements in response to increasing COVID-19 cases. While these measures reflect short-term responses to viral resurgence, they also serve as a reminder to revisit the foundations of infection control in hospital settings including often-overlooked materials such as privacy curtains and other soft furnishings.
The Ongoing Challenge of Hospital-Acquired Infections
HCAIs remain a significant contributor to patient morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and increased costs. The 2023 prevalence survey found that 7.6% of inpatients in England acquired an infection during their hospital stay – up from 6.6% in 2016.
While interventions such as hand hygiene and environmental cleaning are well established, soft surfaces continue to act as hidden reservoirs for microbial contamination. Privacy curtains, in particular, are touched frequently by both staff and patients but are rarely disinfected between patients.
In a climate of constrained budgets and staffing pressures, prevention-focused interventions that reduce infection rates even marginally can deliver meaningful improvements in patient safety, resources, and bed availability.
Why Materials Matter: Curtains as Vectors for Transmission
Multiple studies have demonstrated that privacy curtains can serve as reservoirs for healthcare-associated pathogens, including MRSA, VRE, C. difficile, Klebsiella, and Acinetobacter.
A 2020 study, “Revisiting the Leading Edge of Hospital Privacy Curtains in the Medical Intensive Care Unit,” found widespread contamination of curtain surfaces with clinically significant bacteria and confirmed that these areas are frequently touched by healthcare workers between hand hygiene. Similar findings by Trillis et al showed that infected curtains can easily transfer pathogens to hands.
Because curtains appear clean and are often not part of routine daily disinfection, they represent a stealth pathway for cross-contamination. As a result, many healthcare institutions are exploring antimicrobial curtain technologies as part of comprehensive infection prevention strategies.
“With COVID-19 admissions rising again, it’s vital that NHS Trusts don’t lose sight of the broader infection control picture. Materials used every day in hospitals – from privacy curtains to bedding – can either help stop infection spread or silently contribute to it,” says Lucy Murray, CCO, Hygenica. “It’s encouraging to see more Trusts reassessing their approach to hygiene at the material level.”
The Role of Antimicrobial Fantex® Technology
Fantex® IPC Curtains are treated with an antimicrobial biocide that actively kills pathogens through multiple mechanisms, including:
- Disruption of cell membranes
- Protein denaturation and enzyme inhibition
- Leakage of cellular contents
Independent laboratory testing to international antimicrobial textile standards has shown that Fantex® achieves a ≥Log 3 (99.9%) reduction in pathogenic load within one minute against key pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The coating’s surface localisation ensures high bioavailability where contact occurs, providing sustained antimicrobial activity for the operational life of the curtain.
This technology functions as an always-active supplementary barrier, complementing established cleaning and hygiene protocols rather than replacing them.
A New Standard for Hospital Hygiene
The recent resurgence of COVID-19 highlights the need for infection prevention measures that are broad-spectrum, and evidence-based. NHS Trusts can strengthen their infection control strategy through the following actions:
- Integrate antimicrobial fabrics into procurement policy
Specify validated antimicrobial efficacy (e.g., ISO log reduction standards) for high-touch textiles. - Apply a risk-based deployment strategy
Prioritise antimicrobial materials in high-turnover and critical care areas. - Monitor and evaluate outcomes
Combine surveillance with durability assessments to measure long-term performance.
Hygenica’s collaborations with multiple NHS Trusts demonstrate significant improvements in curtain maintenance, longevity, and infection control performance.
“Our research shows that reducing surface contamination is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to prevent infection outbreaks,” explains Severn Brand, Infection Prevention Lead, Hygenica. “By integrating proven antimicrobial technologies such as Fantex® into everyday hospital environments, Trusts can make meaningful progress in protecting patients and staff.”
Conclusion
The recent resurgence of COVID-19 is a powerful reminder that infection prevention remains as crucial as ever. While hard surfaces often get the most attention, soft surfaces – like curtains – can easily become hidden reservoirs for harmful pathogens. By using evidence-based antimicrobial textiles, healthcare environments can achieve rapid, durable, and measurable protection against infection risks. For NHS Trusts, integrating these technologies is a practical step toward building long-term resilience against both seasonal and emerging infectious threats.
Discover how Hygenica’s Fantex® technology is helping hospitals across the UK reduce infection risk at scale.
