Successful Removal of Clostridioides Difficile Spores and Pathogenic Bacteria From a Launderable Barrier Using a Commercial Laundry Process

Abstract

Background: To properly clean and disinfect hospital mattresses, bed manufacturers recommend a 3- to 6-step process to remove all pathogenic bacteria. An alternative is to use a removable barrier on the mattress, which is laundered after each use. The current study was to determine efficacy of a commercial laundry process in eliminating Clostridioides difficile (C diff) spores, Mycobacterium terrae (M terrae), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P aeruginosa), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K pneumoniae), and Escherichia coli (E coli) from a barrier. Methods: A test barrier received 3 unique microbial suspensions in separate locations, each suspension having a known quantity of specific microorganisms: C diff spores, M terrae, and a mixed suspension of MRSA, S aureus, P aeruginosa, K pneumoniae, and E coli. A wash load contained the test barrier and 11 additional ballast barriers. Various soils were spread onto the barriers to simulate heavy soiling that may occur in a wash load: Each barrier received a small amount of mixed soil, 50% received urine, 25% received blood, and 25% received a large amount of additional mixed soil. The load was laundered using 71°C (160°F) water, detergent, and chlorine bleach, with final drying at 71°C (160°F). After laundering, remaining colony-forming units (CFUs) of each microorganism were counted at the applied locations. Each test was replicated 3 times. Industry-accepted methods were used to produce suspensions, apply inoculum, and recover organisms after laundering. Results: Before laundering, test barriers contained at least 7.0 log10 cfu/mL of each microorganism distributed over 103 cm2. After laundering, in all cases, no residual CFUs were detected over the test area, resulting in greater than 6.0 log10 reductions for every organism. ( P < .05). Conclusions: Under extreme test conditions including the presence of soil, the laundry process removed all detectable pathogenic bacteria and spores from the barrier.

Influence of Hydrogen Peroxide on Disinfection and Soil Removal during Low-Temperature Household Laundry

“…In this case, the entire washing process without adding the 3% HP resulted in 1.81, 0.22 and 2.59 log reduction of E. coli , P. aeruginosa and S. aureus , respectively (data not shown). Similar to our study, Hooker et al [ 35 ] demonstrated that adding the HP to the main wash can substantially reduce E. coli , S. aureus and P. aeruginosa (log 6.9) when washing hospital mattresses.…”

Use of a Launderable Bed Barrier and Antibiotic Stewardship to Decrease Hospital Onset Clostridioides difficile Infections in an Acute Care Hospital: A Retrospective Pre/Post Case Study

“…The covers were cleaned using a validated laundry process, which resulted in greater than a log 6 reduction (99.9999%) in pathogenic bacteria and C. difficile spores. 26 A recent report that showed that use of commercial laundry failed to remove C. difficile spores from linens. 27 The success of the laundry process in disinfecting the BB was likely due to it being fabric coated with polyurethane, which allowed the laundry process to successfully remove the C. difficile spores.…”