7- FABRIC HYGIENE AND DISINFECTION: Chapter 7 summary Enter

That fabrics should be free of pathogenic micro-organisms and hygienically clean is a requirement of hospitals and should also apply to fabrics from hotels. HYGIENE Visual cleaning ComfortStainsWhiteness Invisible cleaning Microorganisms

Requirements of a program Linen as a carrier of germs: Dirty linen is a carrier of germs and therefore a possible means of transmission. Examples of germs present Pseudomona aeruginosaBacillus sppStaphiloccus StreptococcusCandida albicans

4,700,000,000,000,000,000,000 It involves reducing the number of micro-organisms present using chemical agents and/or physical methods, to a level where they do not compromise the harmlessness or suitability of the food (FAO) DEFINITION Disinfection In optimum temperature and moisture conditions: 1 bacteria 24 hours 4,7x10 21

Infectious agent Reservoir Portal of exit Transmission medium Portal of entry New host Chain of transmission of the infections CHAIN OF INFECTION

Each of the pathogenic germs 1. Infectious agent Carrier element for the infectious agent (living beings or objects) 2. Reservoir The medium via which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir (blood, respiratory tract, etc.) 3. Portal of exit Route used by the micro-organisms to reach a new host (direct skin to skin contact, sneezing, coughing, contact with objects, etc.) 4. Transmission medium The medium via which the micro-organisms enter the new host (by ingestion, breathing, direct contact, puncture, contaminated objects, etc.) 5. Portal of entry End and new beginning of the infectious chain. The healthy person becomes infected and becomes a potential transmitter of the infection 6. New host Chain of transmission of the infections

Fabric disinfection methods THERMAL : 15 minutes at °C. 20 minutes at 80-85°C. Using products with active oxygen If the linen is not clean, proper disinfection is not possible. The elimination of dirt is combined with high temperature disinfection. The ratio of time and temperature is vital in achieving adequate levels of disinfection.

Time and temperature ratio % desinfection Washing conditions

Fabric disinfection methods Immersing the fabrics in concentrated disinfectant solutions for a long treatment period. It is a process that is seldom used because it is the least precise and must be carried out separately from the detergent process. CHEMICAL: Phenolic, alcoholic and quaternary ammonium compounds, etc. Time varies depending on the type of disinfectant

Fabric disinfection methods The action of temperature is combined with the addition of disinfecting substances. This permits the disinfection of fabrics that are sensitive to high temperatures and is based on the fact that the detergent and disinfectant process are carried out at the same time. CHEMICAL-THERMAL: 10 minutes at 60 °C. With 120 mg/l of active chlorine or with active oxygen

END OF CHAPTER 7 SUMMARY