Hot Water Soluble Laundry Bags

Description

Hot water‐soluble bags are available in transparent clear frosted color. OUR laundry bags are ideal for Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Institutions, Hotels and Uniform Rental Companies wishing to minimize contact between staff & infected laundry. They are also ideal for hazardous waste facilities.

• Puncture‐resistant hot water‐soluble bags hold wet or damp linen for some time without rupturing.
• The hot water bags dissolve completely in water at 60°C. ‐ 65°C. Won’t damage fabrics, equipment, or waste water treatment systems.
• They are highly resistant to most organic solvents, greases, fats, and oils. Are Impervious to most gases as well as will not generate a static charge.
• Use attached tie‐tape to close.

SPECIFICATION OF LAUNDRY BAGS FOR INFECTION CONTROL & MEDICAL DISPOSAL:

• 36″ x 39
• 25 bags per roll, 8 rolls per case

The soiled linen has been identified as a source of large numbers of pathogenic microorganisms, there is a risk of actual disease transmission appears when carrying soiled & infected Bed Linens and clothes of Patients.

CONTROL MEASURES:

Soiled linen can be transported in the hospital by cart or chute. Bagging linen is indicated if chutes are used, since improperly designed chutes can be a means of spreading microorganisms throughout the hospital soiled linen may or may not be sorted in the laundry before being loaded into washer/ extractor units. Sorting before washing protects both machinery and linen from the effects of objects in the linen and reduces the potential for recontamination of clean linen that sorting after washing requires. Sorting after washing minimizes the direct exposure of laundry personnel to infective material in the soiled linen and reduces airborne microbial contamination in the laundry. Protective apparel and appropriate ventilation can minimize these exposures.

SOLUBLE BAGS:

A laundry bag containing dirty linens from a hospital room is tossed into the washing machine. The closed bag with the linens went into the machine! Why would someone do that? Everyone knows that you can’t expect your shirt to come clean if you wad it into a bag and toss the bag into the washing machine. Hospitals are now using dissolvable plastic bags.

This plastic is strong and airtight under room conditions but dissolves in hot water. Everyone is familiar with polyethylene sandwich bags and trash bags. Poly (vinyl chloride) films are used to make shower curtains and umbrellas. These polymers don’t dissolve in water.

2 RECOMMENDATIONS: (if applicable)

• Following risk assessment, staff should wear appropriate PPE (e.g. gloves, apron) to handle used/soiled/infected linen.
• Used linen should be placed immediately into an appropriate bag/receptacle at place of use.
• Soiled/foul linen should be placed directly into a water‐soluble bag/receptacle to prevent leakage before being transported to Laundry Dept. It should be labelled appropriately and should be removed from the bedside immediately.
• To avoid cross‐contamination, linen should not be held against clothes nor should it be placed on the floor.
• Linen should not be sorted / rinsed at place of use.
• Following completion of task, PPE should be removed and disposed of appropriately.
• Hand hygiene should be performed following handling of used linen.
• Clean and used/infected linen should be transported in dedicated vans to avoid cross contamination.
• Laundry personnel should wear gloves/ appropriate PPE when sorting soiled linen for washing.
• Washing process for used linen should include a disinfection cycle when the temperature should be maintained at 65 degrees Celsius for not less than 10 minutes (or preferably 71 degrees Celsius for not less than 3 minutes). Infected linen should undergo additional washing at 93 degrees Celsius for not less than 10 minutes to eradicate HIV and hepatitis viruses.
• In the home, normal ‘hot’ cycle should be adequate to ensure patient safety.

THE ADVANTAGES ARE:

• Infected laundry is only handled at source.
• Microorganisms can’t multiply.
• Less risk of infection to staff and residents.
• Less risk of cross contamination.
• Ammonia can’t form due to lack of oxygen therefore urine smells are not produced.
• Prevents stains setting as laundry doesn’t dry out.
• Laundry can be safely transported near to kitchen etc.
• Dirty laundry can be left until laundry assistant is on duty this could be days.
• Laundry can be transported safely in cars e.g. community laundry.
• Can be used for an emergency such as machinery breakdown.

OHP sacks: The bags are widely used world over in the Hospitals, health centers, nursing homes, residential homes private, voluntary and local authority run Clinics. They are totally resistant to oil and air as well as biodegradable and environmentally friendly. The collecting of dirty and infected items into the PVA bags evidently protects against contagious diseases.

3 The purpose of OUR OHP sacks is to isolate and transport soiled and infected laundry from the source to the laundry room OHP sacks are a single use. The sack is put into a washing machine and the sluice cycle opens the bag, releasing the items and allowing the laundry to be washed. The plastic bag is disposed of at the end of the washing cycle.

The minimum standards laid down in the previous Laundry Manual where: During an outbreak of Diarrhea and vomiting

• When a resident has a known infection During bed changing at night.
• During staff sickness or holiday when laundry will not be processed for some time.

The actual uses in residential units vary, e.g. some units only use them during an outbreak, some only use them at night others use them more frequently. The reason for this varies but some suggestions are:

• Varying laundry systems.
• Budget restraint vs. health and safety Lack of knowledge by managers.
• Poor control of usage by managers and staff Lack of management support.
• Lack of training for staff.
• Lack of staff awareness of their existence Incorrect use e.g. used as a waste bag.

This system is recommended by the department of health and is particularly important in many residential homes as laundry often has to be transported near to kitchen, dining room, front entrances and laundries are often sited near to the main kitchens.

OHP sacks ‐ USAGE: The consumption of OHP sacks varies but if an establishment used the OHP sacks to transport all laundry contaminated with body fluid such as urine, blood, vomit and feces, the average consumption would be more per day.

FUTURE USE OF OHP sacks:

• When extra bags are needed in an emergency such as an outbreak of infection, staff shortages.
• For use in establishments who operate a community laundry e.g. Nightingale Lodge.
• When a day care service user requires infected clothing to be transported to their home for washing.
• When needed to transport infected laundry in a vehicle.