Best Practices for Washing Uniform Medical Scrubs

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are among the top ten causes of death in the United States¹. That's a statistic that has many healthcare facilities looking to reduce the spread of these deadly infections and increase patient satisfaction.

One of the ways that HAIs spread is through medical textiles, such as scrub uniforms or nurse uniforms. Considering that the vast majority of healthcare workers wear some type of uniform medical scrubs, it's critical that a hygienic wash process is in place for all healthcare uniforms to reduce HAIs.

Home Wash vs. Industrial Wash

Healthcare workers could bring scrub uniforms, nurse uniforms and other medical uniforms home to launder, but that may not do enough to stop the spread of HAIs. While employees may have best intentions, their home washing machines and dryers may not be the most effective means for safeguarding health (including their family's), protecting other hospital personnel and improving patient satisfaction.

Rental uniform programs that include industrial wash processes are designed to help prevent infections and improve cleanliness. They use infection prevention technology for textile management that minimizes exposure to potential infection risks. Effective industrial wash processes also combine laundering best practices with the latest scientific advancements to meet CDC guidelines for healthcare laundry and OSHA bloodborne pathogen handling requirements.

What to Look for From Your Wash Process

Vestis™ uses a wash process for uniform medical scrubs that meets EPA requirements for sanitized laundry, effectively reducing 99.9% of disease-causing pathogens during the wash cycle, including: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)².

But reducing the spread of HAIs through hospital uniforms doesn't rely on a scientifically clean wash process alone. Smart infection prevention from the laundering of scrub uniforms, nurse uniforms and other medical uniforms consists of a comprehensive safety program and exposure control program.

Vestis uses a five-step process in their sanitized solution to help support the infection prevention practices and industry standards of healthcare facilities:

1. Pick Up Starts with Trained Personnel and Labeled Containers

• Soiled BBP product is picked up from customers in labeled and sealed containers
• Soiled laundry is always handled in accordance with universal precautions and OSHA requirements

2. Safety-First Pre-Wash Process

• Facility personnel wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling, sorting and counting product
• Work surfaces and containers are decontaminated after each use

3. Sanitized Wash Based on Science

• Proprietary science-based wash formula developed by Ecolab
• Features AdvaCare™, an EPA-registered product
• Effectively reduces microbial count by 99.9%²
• Meets CDC guidelines for healthcare laundry

4. Finishing Touches Add Quality

• Laundered articles are dried and packaged to industry and customer specifications
• Systemized multi-check grouping/coding assures fast, accurate deliveries
• Final quality inspection makes sure the right items reach the right facilities

5. Vestis Delivers

• Route Sales Representatives handle and transport items according to recognized standards
• Turnkey and hassle free

To start a uniform rental program that includes hygienic washing and handling of your healthcare uniforms, contact our experts today.

¹AHRQ Health Care-Associated Infections. [(accessed on 26 February 2020)]; Available online: https://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patient-safety-resources/resources/hais/index.html

²Vestis' wash formulation meets EPA requirements for laundry sanitizing and provides a 99.9% reduction of the following organisms during the wash cycle: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Sanitized products are only provided to customers of Vestis who require and request their products be processed as containing bloodborne pathogens.

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