Curtains as a Source of Clostridium difficile: The Importance of Sampling Methods

Using MWE POLYWIPE­™ for intensive environmental sampling of hospital curtains in the vicinity of patients with symptomatic Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), contamination was detected on every curtain associated with CDI cases, while no contamination was found on curtains from control rooms. Recovery of C. difficile from multiple curtain segments demonstrated that contamination was often localized, meaning conventional spot sampling could miss up to 80% of true contamination events. The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive surface sampling methods and suggest that hospital curtains may act as a reservoir for C. difficile transmission through hand contact or airborne spore dispersal. These results reinforce the need for effective environmental monitoring and strict hand hygiene practices in areas housing CDI patients.