New Study documents Superbug-kill capabilities of cold-water laundering with EcoTex
December 5, 2013
For 25 years, we at ClearWater Tech have been proving and promoting the efficacy of EcoTex ozone laundering, not only in real-world health care, hospitality, and other applications, but also in the laboratory.
Ozone laundering is well known in the commercial laundry industry for its ability to control ever-rising energy and utility costs. Not so well known, is its effectiveness on another front: bug kill.
Infection control is a growing concern in health care facilities worldwide. Proper hand washing by health care workers and wearing protective gloves and gowns are among various practices frequently cited for helping prevent the spread of germs, including numerous drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (‘C. diff’). In our view, however …
… The laundry room is mistakenly taken for granted in the fight to control ‘superbug’ infections in health care institutions.
We have partnered with Mikrolab, a leading laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden, which has completed extensive bio contamination-control testing involving a number of microorganisms, including C. diff and MRSA, using EcoTex ozone system application methods.
Results are presented on the following pages. Yes, you will see that EcoTex ozone does, indeed, kill bugs. Please contact your EcoTex representative to discuss these findings in more detail, and how this disease-control technology could benefit your organization.
Report on ISO 14698-1:2003 Annex E Validating laundering processes by Mikrolab Stockholm AB
EcoTex Distributor: ACG Pulse
As distributor of the EcoTex line in Sweden, ACG Pulse develops, manufactures, markets and installs garment handling and automation solutions with associated software, services and support to laundries, healthcare, food processing and other industries.
LABORATORY: MIKROLAB
CUSTOMER: Care of Sweden/Genuine Scandinavian Care
PRODUCTS TESTED: TY 1006, TY1001, TY1029 and ACG Pulse
MARCH 29, 2013
2. Laundering parameters
Wash formula: 4 OZON NORMAL 35 C ( App. 43 min programme time)
3. Principle
3.1 Principle of controls
Pieces of sterilized textile (10 x 5 cm) of the same type as those who undergo laundering process are used during this validation. Certain microorganisms are involved according ISO 14698 but two additionally microorganisms are added to this validation. See table 1 for microorganisms.
The pieces of textile are contaminated by a known number of cfu (colony forming units). Then the pieces of textile are put through the laundering process that is to be validated. The ability of the process to reduce the microorganisms by a factor of 105 for the number of bacteria and 104 for the number of yeasts and fungal spores is checked.
In order to validate the method several control are performed:
3.2 Principle of test
For the test a known quantity of microorganisms are prepared in a proteins solution and applied to the test textiles. Then the test pieces are submitted to the laundering process which is to be validated as part of a simulated normal textile load. After the laundering process the pieces are brought back to the laboratory as quickly as possible and enumeration of microorganisms
on the test pieces is done.
The reduction of the microorganisms population is measured and compared to the controls A, B and C. The measurement is done as follows:
When the pieces are brought back to the laboratory each piece is transferred into 100 ml of recovery medium and agitated for 15 s to 30 s, the following steps are performed:
a) 0,1 ml from the diluent is filtrated and incubated, n`1
b) 1 ml from the diluent is filtrated and incubated n`1
c) The remaining volume of diluent is filtrated and incubated n`1
d) Each agitated piece is covered with nutrient agarand incubated n`2
Requirements for approval are that the laundering process ensures a reduction of at least 105 for of the number of bacteria and reduction of at least 104 for yeasts and fungal spores.
4. Results from controls
4.1 Control A
4. Results from controls
4.2 Control B
4. Results from controls
4.3 Control C
5. Results from Test
5. Results from Test
5.1 Results and reductions
6. Conclusion
The laundering process performed according chosen parameters (2 Laundering parameters) during this study and these textiles shows reduction within requirements for the tested microorganisms