INFECTION PREVENTION
How privacy screens reshape infection control
Abdel Amneina, Business Development manager at Silentia UK, discusses the benefits of modular privacy screens compared with traditional and antimicrobial curtains in terms of infection control, sustainability, cost-efficiency, and patient experience. Drawing on clinical research, international case studies, and practical implementation, he highlights the growing relevance of privacy screens for NHS and HSE healthcare estates.
Hospital privacy curtains, though essential for patient dignity, are increasingly being recognised as high-risk touchpoints. Recent scientific research, particularly a 2023 study published in Infection Prevention in Practice, investigated whether antimicrobial curtains offer a meaningful reduction in healthcare-associated infection (HAI) risk.1 Conducted at a major US military hospital, the study, titled ‘New patient privacy curtains to provide passive infection prevention’ measured the bacterial contamination of standard cloth curtains versus Endurocide antimicrobial variants over 20 weeks. The results revealed a 98 per cent reduction in colony-forming units (CFUs) – from 32.6 CFUs for cloth curtains down to 0.56 CFUs on the antimicrobial alternative. Furthermore, no HAIs were recorded during the trial period. Operational benefits included a projected annual saving of over £15,000 and a 67 hour reduction in staff time spent changing or managing curtains. However, while antimicrobial curtains offer
improvements, they remain fabric-based. Their decontamination depends on contact time, regular monitoring, and continued replacement. Some coatings require up to 24 hours to neutralise pathogens – a delay incompatible with high-traffic clinical environments. Moreover, the environmental consequences of antimicrobial coatings are under increased scrutiny. When washed or incinerated, treated curtains may release microplastics and silver nanoparticles into the water table or atmosphere.
Hard-surface screens: Immediate cleaning, zero downtime Silentia privacy screens reportedly address these issues with a fundamentally different design ethos. Their hard, non-porous surface allows immediate cleaning with standard disinfectants. Unlike curtains – which are usually cleaned off-site or only changed between patients on contact precautions – screens can be disinfected in situ, reducing both contamination risk and room downtime. Each screen component is part of a modular system, enabling precise configurations for wards, examination bays, surgical prep areas, or maternity suites. Cleaning protocols are simplified, standardised, and verifiable – aligning with NHS England’s National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021. These standards, while comprehensive, notably omit curtains as a high-frequency touchpoint – despite growing evidence of their role in cross-infection.
October 2025 Health Estate Journal 167
The advantages become especially pronounced in areas where rapid turnover and infection control are paramount, such as A&E, oncology, or surgical recovery. Here, screens not only outperform curtains in hygiene terms, but also enable more fluid patient flow by eliminating delays linked to laundering or curtain changes.
Sustainability in focus: Reducing waste and water use Environmental impact is now a central consideration for capital projects across NHS and HSE Trusts. In line with the Delivering a Net Zero NHS initiative, procurement teams are under pressure to adopt solutions that cut waste, water, and emissions. Curtains, whether disposable or washable, pose a notable burden. Disposable options, made from polypropylene or polyester, must be incinerated after use, contributing to clinical waste volume. Washable curtains consume thousands of litres of water and vast amounts of detergent and energy with every laundering cycle. In contrast, Silentia screens are designed to last over
10 years and require only surface disinfection. A recent Danish study estimated that switching from curtains to screens in a single ward can save 12,000–16,000 litres of wastewater and 3,600 kWh of energy per year. These figures are especially relevant in the context of rising utility costs and environmental audits. For larger estates, the cumulative benefit is significant – not only in cost terms, but also in ESG reporting and reputational impact.
Blekinge Hospital: Local landscape imagery on fixed and folding screens brings a welcoming feel to the reception area while defining spaces with a Scandinavian design aesthetic.
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