Q A & any healthcare infection prevention program . Unfortunately , they are too often poorly understood or worse yet , an afterthought . We find that most knowledge / practice gaps exist around the concept of standard laundry processes for infection prevention and patient safety . At a high level it is common to think of the healthcare laundry process as limited to the wash . While a proper wash cycle is certainly important to producing hygienically clean healthcare textiles , there are hundreds of other standards that must be followed . For example , are textiles sorted properly into like items before the wash ? If not , they will not be washed properly . Is the clean linen exiting the washer functionally separated from any contaminated linen or air ? Are all surfaces touched by clean linen disinfected properly ? Are the staff members handling clean linen practicing proper hand hygiene ? Healthcare laundries should establish a strong partnership with infection control personnel . This partnership should include regular training of hospital staff on proper linen utilization ; regular visits to the laundry ; stain criteria ; linen selection ; and hazardous waste policies .
Jenkins : One of the most glaring knowledge / practice gaps concerning healthcare textiles is what can or cannot be laundered . Often , soiled , bloodied or contaminated textiles are placed in infectious waste or Red Bag waste and sent for incineration or disposal . ARTA surveyed 200 nurses and healthcare professionals several years ago and found that 95 percent had recently disposed of at least one item as Red Bag waste — even though linen is reusable , not waste . This is especially important since the beginning of the pandemic because the professional laundry process kills SARS-CoV-2 . OSHA regulations require that any linen saturated with blood or bodily waste be placed in impermeable soiled linen bags . So , why do clients throw it away as Red Bag waste ? Essentially , they are paying twice : paying to replace the linen and paying 18 to 35 cents per pound to dispose of it as Red Bag waste . It ’ s a complex issue , but basically many waste haulers and hospital administrators train hospital staff to dispose of bloody or saturated linen as Red Bag waste . For waste haulers , it ’ s extra revenue . For hospitals , it ’ s lack of education on OSHA regulations and risk management liability concerns . Working with the Association for Linen Management ( ALM ), ARTA succeeded in getting OSHA to review the problem of Red Bag waste and issue a statement of intent that clarified and affirmed OSHA ’ s regulations on the proper handling of saturated linen and the fact that bloody and soiled linen is not infectious and should be laundered .
Remillong : Education is critical for both sides . Clients must know and understand the processes we follow to ensure we provide them with hygienically clean linen . They must understand their role in maintaining the integrity of the product once it gets to the hospital . Linen storage , distribution and usage practices play a big role in ensuring that the linen on the patient is hygienically clean . Both sides need to be clear on the expectation and what each have to do in order to protect the patient . Clinicians ( infection preventionists ) should also understand the testing we go through to maintain our certification .
HHM Taking into consideration the data around the survivability of the virus on common fabric types , how has SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 impacted the healthcare textiles laundering and processing protocols ?
Gicewicz : Accredited healthcare laundries have for years followed standards that protect hospital patients and laundry workers from pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 as well as even more harmful or robust organisms such as HIV , C . difficile , and hepatitis B . Compared to more robust microorganisms typically found in a healthcare laundry , coronaviruses are relatively easy to kill , and most standard healthcare laundry wash formulas are sufficient . Additionally , standard healthcare laundry surface disinfecting techniques will kill coronaviruses . We are not aware of any documented cases where coronavirus-contaminated linens infected a hospital patient or a laundry worker . If anything , SARS-CoV-2 has emphasized the need for healthcare laundries to continue following rigorous processing standards and has brought greater awareness to the importance of best practices accredited healthcare laundries have been following for years .
Potack : Processing of healthcare textiles has not substantially changed as a response to COVID-19 . The virus can be neutralized as many other pathogens can be , through a normal laundering process by a commercial operator .
Remillong : The virus has definitely put processing protocols front and center . Much more discussion and energy has taken place on this than ever before . I don ’ t know if the protocols have changed much , but the focus and education on managing and maintaining those protocols certainly increased . The conversations with our suppliers also changed a little . Lots more dialogue around specific product options and outcomes is taking place with appreciation for the expertise of those suppliers during this time . Every hygienically clean laundry processor was driven to keep their employees safe and do everything possible to provide their clients with safe , hygienically clean linen .
HHM How has processing healthcare textiles become more complex with SARS-CoV-2 joining the list of other pathogens for which laundering must produce a ‘ hygienically clean ’ result ?
Gicewicz : Standard healthcare textile processing wash formulas are more than sufficient to kill SARS-CoV-2 as well as other more robust pathogens such as C . difficile , HIV , and hepatitis B . Standard hard surface disinfection techniques work as well . We are not aware of any documented cases where SARS-CoV-2 contaminated linens infected a hospital patient or a laundry worker . Most laundry process changes have been around enhanced / emphasized worker protection . For example :
● Increased emphasis on hand hygiene throughout the plant
● Mandating properly fitting masks for all laundry workers
● Enhanced sick policies that address employees living in homes with SARS-CoV-2-infected residents
● Screening employees before their shift
● Installing physical barriers between laundry workers in close contact .
● Laundry worker vaccination events
Potack : With no substantial change to processes , no material adjustment to laundering process has been required to suc-