Infection Control Guideline

INFECTION

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Trends in Infection Prevention and Control:

Healthcare Textiles:

Laundry Science and

Infection Prevention

A report prepared by Infection Control Today magazine, released March 8, 2011.

INFECTION

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Table of Contents

The Imperative for Cleanlines.................................. 3

Healthcare Textiles as Fomites ................................. 3

Pathogen Persistence ............................................. 4

Healthcare Textiles and Outbreaks .......................... 5

The Healthcare Laundry Process .............................. 7

The Debate Over the Link Between

Healthcare Laundry and Infection .......................... 12

Home Laundering of Healthcare Attire ................... 14

Collaboration Between Laundry and

Infection Prevention Departments ........................... 18

References ......................................................... 20

Appendix A:

Pertinent Points from ANSI/AAMI

ST65:2008 — Processing of

Reusable Surgical Textiles for Use

in Healthcare Facilities......................................... 21

Appendix B:

Pertinent Points from the HLAC

Accreditation Standards for

Processing Reusable Textiles for Use in

Healthcare Facilities ............................................ 23

Appendix C:

Precautions to Prevent Transmission of

Infectious Agents ................................................. 27

Written by Kelly M. Pyrek, editor in chief of Infection Control Today magazine. Underwritten by Aramark.

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ICT

www.infectioncontroltoday.com

The Imperative for Cleanliness

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here is a renewed commitment to the elimination of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), triggered

by the mandates established by healthcare policymakers, federal and state regulators, and consumer

groups. A greater emphasis on hygiene and asepsis, coupled with implementation of evidence-based

practices by healthcare professionals, is...