Making the right connection


John Goetz, Global Product Manager at Hydro Systems, contends that it’s essential for healthcare facilities to choose smart dispensing options to combat the threat of infection, and ensure that linen is consistently sanitary and safe.


A constant supply of clean linen is fundamental to the efficient running of healthcare facilities, and unclean linen can have a negative impact on patient and visitor perceptions.


However, for healthcare there is another significant dimension to achieving excellent cleanliness: the supply of clean linen also has an important role to play in keeping patients safe.


The threat of infection


Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) are infections that patients contract while receiving medical treatment, and affect hundreds of millions of people globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of every 100 hospitalised patients at any given time, seven in developed and 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one HAI. These create a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system through extended stays and treatment costs. Annual direct costs related to HAIs and the 16 million extra days of hospital stay that they cause are estimated at €7bn in Europe and $6.5bn in the US.


48 | HEALTHCARE HYGIENE


Unfortunately, HAIs can be caused by numerous factors, including poor environmental and personal hygiene, overcrowding, understaffing and a lack of training. Even different types of linen used by patients and employees can carry microscopic risks that can result in HAIs. A recent study in the UK quantifying the survival of Clostridium difficile spores on hospital bed sheets subjected to the NHS laundry process, found that inadequate laundering may only reduce spore counts by as little as 40% below the microbiological standards for containing disease-causing bacteria.


Understanding the laundry process is key


With the cleanliness of linen such a key component of successful healthcare, it is essential that those who oversee laundry operations in facilities such as hospitals, ambulatory surgical centres and long-term care home facilities should understand the laundry process in detail. This should include awareness of relevant standards, common soils, best practices and equipment recommendations concerning chemical dispensers. This


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