Reply To: soluble bags in laundry

Hi Michelle,

The residential aged care setting may approach things differently to the acute sector where risk reduction mechanisms are not in place/available.

For example: The ventilation is often minimal and laundry size usually small- to house both unclean and clean areas. Aged Care laundry staff are not routinely in the same level of PPE as a large industrial laundry. Staff training in soiled laundry management can vary. Transmission risks due to decanting from plastic bags may present – these plastic bags may also be required to be placed in clinical waste – depending on the scenario/pathogen (adding cost). Full fluid resistant linen bags are not generally purchased in aged care, and consistent colour coding practices are recommended.

Where risks can potentially be reduced by the use of soluble bags – aged care organisations do use them.

There are many brands of soluble bags and determining the right one for the service and machine wash (thermal or Ozone disinfection) is beneficial.
Bagging both soluble and linen bag at the point of care can reduce risks. Careful handling and transport of soiled bagged linen is well documented to reduce organism movement and bag breakage. Wrapping sodden items in a dry towel prior to placing in the soluble bag reduces risk of soluble bag breakage due to fluid exposure. On completion of wash the remains of the soluble bag can simply be removed (it is clean/disinfected) and placed into general waste.

Hope that helps.