In a new report published by Infection Control Today, Gregory Gicewicz, board president of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC), summarizes important steps for keeping healthcare textiles free from contaminants - noting that proper laundry facility standards are key to preventing infections.

"The biggest challenges are the countless opportunities for contamination after the laundering of healthcare textiles," Gicewicz says in the special report, "Keeping it Clean: Hygiene of Textiles, Laundry Facility is Key to Preventing Infections."

"Some of these aren't always apparent, but it takes one breach for an infection to happen," he says. "Functional separation at all phases of the laundering process is critical. HLAC is a nonprofit organization that inspects and accredits laundries processing healthcare textiles for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

In the report, Gicewicz outlines areas where contamination can happen, including during removal of textiles from the washer, into the dryer, during transport preparation, on loading docks, and in hospital linen rooms. 

The report also provides guidelines for infection preventionists on what to look for during visits to their healthcare laundry facility, which should occur at least annually, according to Gicewicz. "We encourage infection preventionists - and environmental services leaders - to establish a close relationship with staff from hospital laundries."

In a separate section, the report looks at ways healthcare laundries can protect its own employees from contaminants, including the wearing of personal protective equipment.

The HLAC Accreditation Standards document covers the complete textile processing cycle: from handling and transporting to laundering and finishing to customer service. No other currently available accreditation program is as detailed or as comprehensive in scope as HLAC's. HLAC Accreditation Standards have been developed based on federal regulations and guidelines as well as best industry practices. 

About HLAC

The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) is a nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of inspecting and accrediting laundries processing healthcare textiles for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. For more information, www.hlacnet.org, on Twitter @NewsHlac.