“Despite the fact that these fabric barriers have been demonstrated to harbor pathogens after just one week of use, privacy curtains can remain in use for several months, except when visibly soiled or in rooms where the patient was under contact isolation for infection.
Because privacy curtains are handled frequently by health care providers, patients, and visitors, there is growing concern over curtains as a vector for cross-contamination of bacteria and viruses that may contribute to nosocomial infections.”