New study


updated on the latest IPC guidelines and best practices, further enhancing the overall quality of care.


Recommendations for care homes As a direct result of our study, we recommend five courses of action to improve laundry management and reduce infection risks in care homes: 1. Adopt the developed simplified guidance: Utilise the newly developed laundry guidance tailored for care homes. This guidance provides clear, actionable steps for managing laundry safely.


2. Invest in training and education: Standardise training for all staff, including agency workers, to ensure consistent practices. Training should emphasise the ‘why’ behind IPC protocols to foster understanding and compliance.


3. Upgrade infrastructure: Procure and install commercial washing machines and tumble dryers . Ensure the installation is carried out by a professional company in accordance with the appropriate regulations and are capable of achieving thermal or chemical disinfection.


4. Foster a culture of compliance: Encourage and support staff to follow the IPC protocols by explaining their importance and recognising their contributions to infection prevention.


5. Collaborate for solutions: Engage with local authorities and IPC specialists to address resource and space limitations.


Future directions


The management of laundry in care homes is a critical yet often underappreciated aspect of IPC. As the care home sector continues to evolve and grow, it is essential to prioritise research and innovation in this area. Future studies should focus on developing cost-effective, scalable solutions tailored to the operational realities of care homes. Advances in technology, such as low temperature chemical disinfectant systems, antimicrobial textiles and automated laundry systems, hold


promise for enhancing IPC protocols and improving health outcomes for residents and staff alike. If care homes are unable to meet the IPC audit requirements for laundry, outsourcing needs to be considered, just as many European care homes have now adopted. By contracting external laundry providers, there is certainty that they must adhere to the HTM 1-04 guidelines and, where appropriate, BS EN 14065:2016.


38 The authors


Sapphire Crosby: Dr of Education – School of Social Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester.


Janet McMahon: Infection Prevention Control Nurse – Cheshire Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Joy Allen: Senior Infection and Prevention Control Nurse – Kirklees and Wakefield Local Authorities.


Jackie Hook CChem MRSC – Independent Laundry Chemist


Future studies should focus on developing cost-effective, scalable solutions


Conclusion Effective laundry management is not merely a logistical task, but fundamental to infection prevention in care homes, and this is not just relevant for the UK care home sector but wider. By implementing the latest guidance, investing in staff training, and addressing operational challenges, care homes can protect their residents and staff from preventable infections through appropriate laundry practices. With continued research and collaboration, the sector can move towards safer, more efficient practices that prioritise reducing the transmission of infectious disease. Let us take this opportunity to improve laundry practices, ensuring that care homes remain safe for their residents and a model of excellence in IPC.


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Bibliography 1. Care Quality Commission (CQC). (2022) Infection prevention and control in care homes. https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance- providers/residential-adult-social-care/ infection-prevention-control-care-homes


2. Department of Health and Social Care. (2022). Infection prevention and control in adult social care settings. https://www.gov.


uk/government/publications/infection- prevention-and-control-in-adult-social- care-settings


3. Fijan, S., & Turk, S. S. (2005). Implementing hygiene monitoring systems in hospital laundries to reduce microbial contamination of hospital textiles. Journal of Hospital Infection, 61(1), 30-38.


4. NHS England. (2021). Environmental cleaning and laundry management guidelines. https://www.england.nhs. uk/publication/national-standards-of- healthcare-cleanliness-2021/


5. NHS England (2013) (HTM 01-04) Decontamination of linen for health and social care, NHS choices. https:// www.england.nhs.uk/publication/ decontamination-of-linen-for-health-and- social-care-htm-01-04/


6. Owen, L., & Laird, K. (2020). The role of textiles as fomites in the healthcare environment: a review of the infection control risk. PeerJ, 8, e9790.


7. Riley K, Williams J, Owen L, Shen J, Davies A, Laird K. 2017. The effect of low-temperature laundering and detergents on the survival of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on textiles used in healthcare uniforms. Journal of Applied Microbiology 123(1):280-286


8. Tarrant, J., Jenkins, R. O., & Laird, K. T. (2018). From ward to washer: The survival of Clostridium difficile spores on hospital bed sheets through a commercial UK NHS healthcare laundry process. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 39(12), 1406-1411.


Kathryn Hinsliff-Smith: Associate Professor/ Reader – Leicester School of Nursing, De Montfort University, Leicester.


Katie Laird: Professor of Microbiology – School of Pharmacy De Montfort University, Leicester.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com April 2025


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