Risks and Policies Focused on Hospital Infections and Contaminated Textiles

Abstract

Background: Recent published studies demonstrate that clinical textiles and other wearables are a source of hospital infections. This Workshop will address three aspects of the issue: a) a review of the current infectious outbreaks and their specific pathogens; b) the multiple publics at risk for healthcare infections; and c) the basis for current standards and future policies in the EU, US, and elsewhere. Workshop format: Introduction by DF Goldsmith; outbreak of pediatric mucormycosis in New Orleans by CDC scientists; methicillin-suspectible Staphylcocus aureus contamination of clinical staff lanyards in London; laundry contamination by zygomycetes in Hong Kong by KY Yuen; control of hospital infections by the use of copper oxide in Tel Aviv; Summary by MP Muller. The populations at risk for textile transmitted infections include patients, healthcare providers, the general public visiting hospitals and nursing homes; and laundry employees by DF Goldsmith.Standards and Policy Introduction by D Hoefer; Hohenstein Institute testing for <20 colony forming units (CFU) by D Hoefer; "Hygienically Clean" in the US by DF Goldsmith; improved technologies including improvements in detergents, bleaches and temperature; biocidical naocopper fiber treatments; and possible reduction to <15 CFU. Conclusions and Future Public Health Issues, Surveillance by DF Goldsmith and D Hoefer. Synthesis: Transmission of healthcare infections is an area needing more epidemiology research and leadership. This will become a higher concern with the findings of drug resistant pathogens and the need for improving prevention control technologies.