Using cloth towels to clean hospital rooms may be insufficient to remove microbial contaminants, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers examined the effects of laundry and cleaning practices on cloth towels used to clean hospital rooms. They found high numbers of microbial contaminants on the towels.
The authors concluded, "Hospital laundering practices appear insufficient to remove microbial contaminants and may even add contaminants to the towels. Furthermore, it has been previously reported that towels can interfere with the action of common hospital disinfectants." They suggest reevaluating the use of cloth towels in cleaning hospitals.
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Researchers examined the effects of laundry and cleaning practices on cloth towels used to clean hospital rooms. They found high numbers of microbial contaminants on the towels.
The authors concluded, "Hospital laundering practices appear insufficient to remove microbial contaminants and may even add contaminants to the towels. Furthermore, it has been previously reported that towels can interfere with the action of common hospital disinfectants." They suggest reevaluating the use of cloth towels in cleaning hospitals.
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