According to statistics provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services, one in 20 hospital patients will develop a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) during treatment. While all hospitals and clinics strive to reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases between patients as much as possible, completely eliminating the threat of HAIs is unrealistic. Proper disinfection of textiles using specialized equipment ensures that dangerous bacteria are killed before they can spread to other patients.
Studies have shown that textiles can be considered as a fomite or an object that is capable of carrying an organism. Hospital linens act as reservoirs that contribute to the spread of bacteria. Different bacterial strains are able to survive on laundry for up to 90 days. However, careful washing of hospital linen – the primary contact point for patients – can greatly reduce the risk of spreading infections.
Using the right type of commercial laundry equipment will greatly reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases through contaminated textiles. Medical experts state that to effectively kill bacteria and other laundry-borne viruses, laundry should be washed with detergent and bleach for at least 25 minutes in 160°F water. Studies have shown that bacteria, viruses and bugs are unable to survive this water temperature and chemical mixture.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although there are several methods of sanitary or textile disinfection, each method requires a combination of equipment capable of handling different processes.
For example, to ensure that the equipment heats the water to the recommended 160°F, the laundry equipment will require advanced controls. These controls can display the exact water temperature inside the washing machine and also send the data to the computer. This allows facility operators to print reports and provide documentation demonstrating that their washing protocol meets federal requirements.
Why hospital linen can be dangerous
Studies have shown that textiles can be considered as a fomite or an object that is capable of carrying an organism. Hospital linens act as reservoirs that contribute to the spread of bacteria. Different bacterial strains are able to survive on laundry for up to 90 days. However, careful washing of hospital linen – the primary contact point for patients – can greatly reduce the risk of spreading infections.
What type of device makes the difference?
Using the right type of commercial laundry equipment will greatly reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases through contaminated textiles. Medical experts state that to effectively kill bacteria and other laundry-borne viruses, laundry should be washed with detergent and bleach for at least 25 minutes in 160°F water. Studies have shown that bacteria, viruses and bugs are unable to survive this water temperature and chemical mixture.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although there are several methods of sanitary or textile disinfection, each method requires a combination of equipment capable of handling different processes.
For example, to ensure that the equipment heats the water to the recommended 160°F, the laundry equipment will require advanced controls. These controls can display the exact water temperature inside the washing machine and also send the data to the computer. This allows facility operators to print reports and provide documentation demonstrating that their washing protocol meets federal requirements.
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