RESEARCH • VALIDATION • PATIENT SAFETY
CLINICAL EVIDENCE.
MEASURABLE RESULTS.
Explore published research, hospital studies, laboratory validation and safety guidance addressing mattress contamination, healthcare- associated infections and the performance of the Soteria® Bed Barrier.
EVIDENCE AT A GLANCE
C. difficile infections in an Indiana hospital study.
Reported in validation of the commercial laundering process.
Reported during a five-hospital mattress audit.
WHY THE MATTRESS MATTERS
THE PATIENT SURFACE IS PART OF THE INFECTION-PREVENTION ENVIRONMENT.
Research and safety guidance have identified challenges involving mattress contamination, damaged covers, cleaning effectiveness and the potential for residual biological material to remain within healthcare mattresses.
CONTAMINATION
Studies have evaluated contamination remaining on mattresses and bed components following routine terminal cleaning.
MATTRESS INTEGRITY
Hospital audits have documented damaged mattress covers and staining within mattress cores.
VALIDATED PROTECTION
Soteria studies have evaluated infection outcomes, barrier performance and validated laundering.
SELECTED CLINICAL EVIDENCE
PUBLISHED FINDINGS & HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE.
Each summary below is paired with the underlying publication, presentation or research source so the evidence can be reviewed directly.
REPORTED REDUCTION
IN C. DIFFICILE INFECTIONS
HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS
Decreasing C. difficile infections through use of a launderable mattress cover
A pre-post study conducted across two long-term acute-care hospitals evaluated use of the Soteria Bed Barrier, changed at patient discharge. The published study reported a 48% reduction in C. difficile infections.
American Journal of Infection Control, 2015
VIEW THE PUBLISHED STUDY →REDUCTION ACHIEVED DURING TERMINAL CLEANING
MATTRESS & BED CONTAMINATION
Evaluation of a launderable bed protection system for hospital beds
A randomized study in a 66-bed Indiana hospital examined mattress and bed-deck contamination. The study found less than a 1-log reduction during the terminal cleaning process and reported that mattresses and bed decks protected by the barrier did not become contaminated after barrier removal at patient discharge.
Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 2012
VIEW THE PUBLISHED STUDY →REDUCTION OF TESTED BACTERIA & SPORES
VALIDATED REPROCESSING
Successful removal of C. difficile spores and pathogenic bacteria
Commercial laundering of the barrier was evaluated using heavy soil conditions including blood and urine. Testing included C. difficile spores and multiple pathogenic bacterial organisms.
Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, 2020
VIEW THE PUBLISHED STUDY →
OF MATTRESSES
REPORTED DAMAGED
MATTRESS INTEGRITY
Hospital mattress failures: a hidden patient danger
A five-hospital audit evaluated mattress condition and identified extensive mattress-cover failures. The report also documented widespread staining within a substantial number of mattress cores.
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2021
VIEW THE PUBLISHED STUDY →
REPORTED REDUCTION
IN C. DIFFICILE INFECTIONS
HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS
Launderable bed barrier and antibiotic stewardship in an acute-care hospital
A pre-post hospital study evaluated implementation of a launderable bed barrier alongside antibiotic stewardship and reported a 43% reduction in hospital-onset C. difficile infections.
Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, 2019
VIEW THE STUDY →
INCREASE IN
SKIN INJURIES
WOUND CARE & PATIENT SAFETY
Wounds, C. difficile and a mattress cover
A WOCN conference presentation described reductions in C. difficile and wound infections after implementation while reporting no increase in pressure-related injuries.
WOCN Conference Poster Presentation, 2018
VIEW THE PRESENTATION →ADDITIONAL FINDINGS
EVIDENCE ACROSS INFECTION PREVENTION, UTILIZATION & PATIENT SAFETY.
REDUCTION IN PSEUDOMONAS-RELATED DAKIN’S UTILIZATION
An Indiana hospital analysis reported a 34% reduction in Dakin’s solution utilization during the study period.
VIEW POSTER →GREATER CHANCE OF HOCDI AFTER EXPOSURE
A SHEA poster presentation reported increased risk of hospital-onset C. difficile infection when the previous occupant of the same bed had CDI.
VIEW SHEA POSTER →REDUCTION IN HOCDI REPORTED IN VIRGINIA PRESENTATION
A Virginia Patient Safety Summit presentation described improvement following bed-frame replacement and further improvement following implementation of a bed barrier.
VIEW PRESENTATION →SAFETY GUIDANCE
MATTRESS SAFETY HAS DRAWN NATIONAL ATTENTION.
Independent safety organizations and regulators have issued guidance addressing damaged mattress covers, retained fluids and the importance of mattress inspection and maintenance.
ECRI 2019 TOP TEN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY HAZARDS
Clean mattresses can retain blood and body fluids.
ECRI identified mattress contamination among its 2019 Top Ten Health Technology Hazards.
FDA SAFETY GUIDANCE
Covers for hospital bed mattresses: learn how to keep them safe.
FDA guidance encourages healthcare facilities to inspect mattress covers and remove or replace damaged surfaces in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
VIEW FDA GUIDANCE →CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH & PRESENTATIONS.
Explore supporting conference material examining hospital mattresses, contamination and healthcare-associated infection.
SHEA • 2022
Impact of exposure to potentially contaminated hospital beds on risk of HOCDI
VIEW PRESENTATION →APIC • 2019
Mattresses as a source of healthcare-acquired infections
VIEW PRESENTATION →WOCN • 2018
Innovation in the Village: wounds, C. difficile and a mattress cover
VIEW PRESENTATION →FROM EVIDENCE TO ACTION
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE PATIENT MATTRESS.
Soteria® Bed Barrier provides a removable, launderable protective layer between the patient and the mattress, supported by a validated reprocessing process.
Study summaries are provided for informational purposes. Results reflect the specific studies, institutions, populations and methodologies referenced. Follow the source links above to review the original research and supporting materials.