ALM Takes First Steps to Defining Quantifiable Measure for Hygienically Clean Textiles in the U.S.

The expectation to achieve a targeted performance level is nothing new to a healthcare laundry processor. But when the expected level is an unknown value, it is impossible to meet those expectations. This is exactly what U.S. healthcare laundries face when U.S. guidelines direct them to produce hygienically clean linen without providing a quantifiable value or method of measure. The Association for Linen Management (ALM) is working to change that.

In the May 2019 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the first published article featuring results from ALM’s research project are available.

“We undertook this study as a first step to identify microbial levels present on healthcare textiles in the U.S. today,” said Dr. Fontaine Sands, who led this investigational project and is the ALM on-staff Infection Preventionist. “Before we can know where the industry should be performing, we must first identify where we actually are.”

This study continues ALM’s long history of answering the needs of healthcare linen providers and processors, as well as maintaining their role as the textile industry’s best resource.

“Producing research like this is how laundry professionals can begin to demonstrate to the healthcare community that we are partners with them in the fight to provide the best quality products for the best patient outcomes,” said Linda Fairbanks, ALM executive director.

Those who want to read the research information can access the full article until Monday, June 10, 2019. Textile professionals are encouraged to download the article and share with customers or other interested partners. We think you’ll be surprised to discover how textiles performed after being on patient care units for 24 hours.

ALM would like to thank ALM members Ecolab, U.N.X., and Centurion for their funding to cover the cost of specimen collection and laboratory culturing.