A new Kaiser Permanente policy has banned the use of 13 antimicrobial chemicals and elements added to fabrics, furniture and finishes in its healthcare facilities, according to an article on the Health Facilities Maintenance website.
The policy applies to construction and renovation projects going forward
The decision, which follows a commitment Kaiser made last year to remove furniture containing toxic flame-retardent chemicals from its facilities, is not retroactive.
John Kouletsis, vice president for facilities planning and design at Kaiser Permanente, said that in its research, the health system has found little evidence that the 13 items included on its ban list are actually effective infection prevention tools.
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