The Role Of Advanced Hospital Laundry Services In Preventing Infections

Hygiene is of utmost importance in hospitals everywhere, especially since most of the patients visiting or  admitted to the hospital will already be dealing with compromised immunity. To prevent any further infection due to dirty linens, it is necessary to have clean bed sheets and linens in the hospitals.

The hospital laundry service needs proper thermal cleaning, detergents and disinfectants to get rid of dirt, dust, bacteria and viruses. If the soiled linens are used regularly in hospitals, they can cause hospital-associated illnesses.

A] Understanding Infections in Healthcare Settings

When individuals are admitted to hospitals, they often suffer from a range of illnesses. Some require invasive procedures that necessitate a sterile environment to facilitate a speedy recovery. Others are admitted to combat infectious diseases. Unfortunately, when these patients are placed together in the same room, the risk of transferring infections increases, leading to delays in recovery. Moreover, using previously used linens can also contribute to the spread of infections. These patients are already vulnerable, making them susceptible to secondary infections that, if left untreated, can have fatal consequences.

The common pathogens responsible for infections are tuberculosis bacteria, e coli, malaria, and various viruses. The infection not only transfers from patient to patient but also from doctors or visitors to the patient and vice versa. An unhygienic environment can also lead to infections. That is the reason even doctors wash and sanitise their hands before any surgery or any procedure that requires physical contact.

Keeping the premises clean, changing linens daily, sanitising the bathrooms, using fresh and clean towels and changing patients’ clothes daily is a necessity.

B] Importance of Clean Linens and Clothing in Hospitals

Hospitals can be breeding grounds for infections, particularly for patients who are confined to their beds. Among the various sources of contamination, linens serve as major reservoirs for infectious pathogens.

From food spills and chemical residues to patient coughing and bodily waste, linens are exposed to numerous sources of bacteria and viruses. Therefore, the importance of daily linen changes cannot be overstated. Failing to replace linens on a daily basis can lead to additional infections on top of existing illnesses, potentially impeding the recovery process or even resulting in secondary infections.

To mitigate these risks, regular bathing, wearing clean clothes, and utilising fresh towels are essential practices that help reduce the likelihood of infections. To remove such tough infection-causing bacteria you need a linen and laundry service in hospitals that can thoroughly clean the linen and prevent added infections.

C] Challenges in Traditional Hospital Laundry Methods

The conventional washing methods might fail to clean the linens thoroughly. It might not have appropriate water temperature, or chemicals or detergents to disinfect the linens. The bigger hospital has a bigger laundry load that increases the burden on the laundry department of the hospital. There might not be enough space, the right equipment or enough expertise to clean the linens.

Providing adequate space, technique, and labour might prove expensive for hospital management. If the linen is not sanitised and thoroughly cleaned, it might increase the infection rates in the patient, increase their hospital stay and delay their recovery.

Thus, a professional laundry cleaner is the best option to get the hospital linens cleaned.

D] Advanced Hospital Laundry Services

Advanced laundry services provided by professional cleaners have the right types of equipment, experience and outcome that prevent any infections in the patients. The professionals sort the linens before washing them to avoid any cross-contamination.

The linens are separated according to their material, use and level of infection-carrying possibility. The linens are washed in high-temperature water using appropriate detergents, solvents and disinfectants. These linens are then dried in the dryers or sun-dried as per the requirement, ironed and packed for the next use. The transportation of these linens might also infect the linens with bacteria and viruses. Thus, the linens are properly packed in plastic that prevents infestation of any bacteria or viruses. This clean linen must be stored in an area which is restricted and has minimum exposure to infection-causing pathogens.

The benefits of advanced laundry services include reduced infection rates, increase the life of the linens used in hospitals, are cost-effective, use the latest technologies to keep the linen sanitised and prevent any infections.

E] Best Practices in Advanced Hospital Laundry Services

Listed below are some of the best practices followed by reputed advanced hospital laundry services to ensure a hygienic environment in the hospital which helps in preventing infections.

• Proper handling and sorting of soiled linens: Before washing the laundry is sorted and separated according to the material, use, and degree of sanitisation required.
• Selection of appropriate detergents and disinfectants: A right kind of detergent and disinfectants help to get rid of bacteria and viruses.
• Temperature and time considerations: Only professional cleaners have the right equipment and technologies to use warm or hot water to wash the linens, ironing the washed linens as the final disinfection technique. They know which linen requires how much time to thoroughly get disinfected.
• Quality control measures and monitoring: The professional laundry services are experienced enough to maintain high-quality control and monitor each step to ensure total disinfection of the linen.

Conclusion

Clean laundry is very crucial for patients’ recovery. If the traditional laundry services are unable to fulfil the requirements at the hospital it is best to hire professional cleaners to do the work. The professional cleaners ensure there is proper disinfection and sanitisation of the linens and clothes for the better recovery of the patients.

Fabricare is one such provider of  dry cleaning services in VileParle. You can rely on us for thorough cleaning necessary to prevent infection. Our team of experienced professionals understands the importance of maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, especially in healthcare settings. With our state-of-the-art equipment and industry expertise, we’ll ensure that all your hospital laundry is treated with utmost care, eliminating any potential risks of cross-contamination.

By entrusting your laundry needs to Fabricare, you can rest assured that patients’ well-being and recovery are prioritised with exceptional cleanliness standards.