According to the instructions for use of the major hospital bed manufacturers, hospital mattresses should be visually inspected after every patient to determine if they have been compromised and whether they are safe for continued use.39,41 Unfortunately, damage often goes unnoticed since it can be invisible to the naked eye.5,9,56 Many mattresses have sewn zipper seams around the perimeter and small holes can develop in the mattress cover as a result of chemical damage or everyday wear-and-tear allowing fluid ingress.16 This means that the mattress core needs to be inspected after each use to ensure fluids have not leaked inside.
FOLLOW-UP: Ask your mattress manufacturer how often mattresses should be inspected, who should inspect them, how to inspect them, and the estimated time needed to inspect them.