Where/how are the hospital barriers laundered?
Picture 1 barriers being washed following a prescriptive laundering process. Picture 2 barriers are inspected on a light table after laundering.
Barriers are typically laundered at the hospital’s usual laundry facility. They are washed with a detergent, chlorine bleach, 160°F water, and then brought to a neutral pH using a souring agent. The barriers are dried at 160°F temperatures, then inspected for damage over a light table. The process achieves a 6-log or greater reduction in pathogens including C. diff spores, even in the presence of soil.22
References
22. Hooker EA, Ulrich D, Brooks D. Successful removal of Clostridioides difficile spores and pathogenic bacteria from a launderable barrier using a commercial laundry process. Infect Dis (Auckl). 2020;13:1-6. doi:10.1177/1178633720923657