Infection Control Manual, Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions
	Introduction
	Transmission-Based Precautions
	Hand Hygiene
	Barrier Protection
	Sharps Disposal
	Patient Placement
	Patient Transport
	Food and Nutrition
	Lab Specimens
	Housekeeping
	Medical Waste
	Patient/Visitor Exposures
	Linen/Laundry Services
	Medical Emergencies

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Yale New Haven Hospital
QISS
GB 325
New Haven, CT
06504 USA

Dr. Jeff Topal
688-4634


Linen and Laundry Services

Soiled linen can be a source of microbial contamination, which may infrequently cause infection in hospital patients and personnel. All soiled linen should be handled in the same manner regardless of the patient's specific diagnosis. Although the risk of disease transmission from soiled linen is minimal, the following infection control guidelines apply to the management of linen and laundry.

Handwashing should be performed after having contact with all soiled linen.

Protective barrier apparel should be used as follows:

	Gloves should be worn for actual or potential contact with soiled linen contaminated with blood or body substances.
	Gowns should be worn for the management of soiled linen if contamination of the clothing is likely to occur.
	Masks should be worn if there is a potential for exposure to aerosolized blood or body substances. This may occur if soiled linen is extensively agitated.

All soiled linen is considered potentially infectious.
Handle soiled linen as little as possible and with a minimum of agitation to prevent gross microbial contamination of the air and of persons handling the linen.
Linen should not be sorted or rinsed in patient care areas.
All soiled linen should be bagged at the location where it was used.
Place all linen in the designated leak proof, laundry bags. To order additional laundry bags, contact the Environmental Services Department at 8-2348.
NOTE: Double bagging of soiled linen is not required when the leak-proof laundry bags are used.
Caution must be exercised to help prevent laundry bags from being OVERFILLED. The linen hampers will be emptied by the Environmental Associates and taken to the soiled utility room for removal by Environmental Services.
Loose linen should never be thrown directly into the laundry chute.
The linen chute is cleaned by Environmental Associates periodically and when gross soiling occurs. Wear gloves, gowns, masks, and safety glasses during these cleaning procedures.
The linen chute receiving rooms will be emptied of soiled linen bags, which then will be loaded onto linen hamper trucks by Materials Services staff.
Hamper trucks of soiled linen will then be loaded onto trucks for transportation to and laundered at the off-site, contract laundry where Standard Precautions are used.

Last modified: September 30, 2002.