“ This is the part of the overall process that is most vulnerable to outside contamination . A best practice is every surface that touches the healthcare textile must be as hygienically clean as the textile itself .”
Scherberger ended the panel presentation with a clarion call to evaluate evidence-based practices through peer review and accepted scientific best practices , defining the ethics of “ mother care :” “ If your mother was going to use those textiles , or be visited by a member of the patient care team , how careful would you be to ensure they are hygienically clean through the use of a professionally accredited , healthcare laundry ?”
In a breakout session at the TRSA conference , “ Stability of Coronaviruses on Textiles : Are Healthcare Textiles a COVID-19 Infection Control Risk ?,” Katie Laird , PhD , professor of microbiology and head of the infectious disease research group at De Montfort University , shared the results of a recent study , “ The role of textiles as fomites in the healthcare environment : a review of the infection control risk .” She explained the current body of research indicating that microorganisms survive on textiles for extended periods of time and can transfer onto skin and other surfaces , suggesting it is biologically plausible that pathogens can be transmitted through contact with contaminated textiles .
She shared the results ( see diagrams below ) of testing the stability and survivability of human coronaviruses on textiles and their ability to transfer to other surfaces such as PVC and fabrics up to 72 hours post-inoculation . She pointed to some case studies that link small outbreaks with inadequate laundering or infection control processes surrounding healthcare laundry . Laird also shared other studies that have demonstrated the survival of potential pathogens during laundering of healthcare textiles , supporting the data published on specific outbreak case studies .
Laird concluded that although there are no large-scale epidemiological studies demonstrating a direct link between healthcare-acquired infections ( HAIs ) and contaminated textiles , evidence of outbreaks from published case studies should not be disregarded . Adequate microbial decontamination of linen and infection control procedures during laundering are required to minimize the risk of infection from healthcare textiles . Domestic laundering of healthcare worker uniforms is a particular concern due to the lack of control and monitoring of decontamination , offering a route for potential pathogens to enter the clinical environment .
Laird provided the evidence that model coronaviruses can remain infectious in water and after laundering at low temperatures ( less than 41 degrees C ), particularly in the presence of interfering substances ; however , they are sensitive to thermal disinfection temperatures used in Industrial laundering cycles and in accordance with CDC-issued parameters for the laundry process . Industrial laundering of healthcare worker uniforms provides greater assurances of adequate decontamination compared to domestic laundering , due to the ability to monitor laundering parameters ; this is of particular importance to minimize any risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission .