Preventing Cross Contamination

Laundering for any healthcare facility is the hidden backbone of hygiene. Every sheet, towel, blanket, uniform, personal clothing, patient apparel, scrub suit, gown, and drape for surgical procedure that cycles through the facility carries the potential for cross-contamination if strict guidelines are not enforced. 

The control measures, as per commercial laundry manuals, need to be monitored closely by a professional team and SOP for in-house laundry services at hospitals or outsourced facilities. The staff should be assigned specific roles and should not move between soiled and clean areas without proper hygiene measures. They must wear gloves, gowns, safety glasses, and other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) kits when handling soiled laundry. Staff should be aware of the importance of not moving between soiled and clean areas without appropriate measures. Laundry employees must wash their faces and hands when leaving the laundry area.

Most facilities maintain strict cleaning protocols to fight against harmful pathogens. The process is not just about following cleaning instructions but also ensuring high safety standards. 

A proper flow system from dirty to clean is essential. The process starts with collecting soiled linen in designated dirty laundry baskets. These baskets are distinctly marked to prevent any mix-up. Once the linen is washed, it is transferred to clean baskets and then set for pressing and folding before sealing in the package to prevent any external contact, and then sent off for transporting clean laundry.

To further prevent cross-contamination, healthcare laundry processes should incorporate specific steps and precautions.

Training staff in proper laundry handling and hygiene protocols is crucial. For maintaining a safe and hygienic environment, designing laundries with separate soiled and clean rooms, using proper laundry handling protocols, and ensuring compliance with state regulations, healthcare facilities can significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination.