Hygiene is vital

Hygiene is an extremely important factor for hospitals because when it comes to keeping a clean and sterile environment, there can be no room for mistakes.

Superior protection from infection

One of the main functions of surgical gowns and drapes is to protect patients and hospital staff from infection by:

  • reducing the risk of post-operative infections for staff

  • protecting patients from hospital acquired infections (HAI)

Due to the environment in which these surgical textiles are used, it is extremely important that they are correctly laundered to avoid contamination and the promotion of disease and infection. A clean room has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by the number of particles per cubic metre at a specified particle size.

No risk at home

When a hospital rents from a textile services company, staff no longer need to take their soiled uniforms home for domestic laundering. This can be doubly hazardous, with the possibility of introducing infection and disease into the home. At the same time, washing at home means that hospitals cannot guarantee that the uniform has been washed to the required standard, that it is properly sterilised and suitable for a sterile surgical environment. Using a textile services company also ensures that the uniforms are not worn outside the hospital in unhygienic situations, such as on public transport.

Rental launders in a clean room environment

Textile rental companies have their own clean rooms, in which these surgical garments can be specially laundered, completely sterilised and packaged, ready for the next use. This ensures that they are fit for use in a sterile hospital environment.

In fact, using these clean rooms to launder surgical textiles has proven to be more hygienic, more cost-effective and more environmentally sound than using disposables paper garments.

ETSA: Representing textile rental companies

Alsco Bardusch CWS textilia Elis Initial johnson Lindstrom Mewa Salesianer

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ETSA: In partnership with suppliers of detergents, fabrics and machinery

Alsico Bierbaum  Carrington Chainge christeyns Cibutex Ecolab HB Jensen kannegiesser Klopman kreusslerMilliken 2021 Tencate Van Moer

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ETSA: Coordinating national textile service associations and working with research institutes

Apac Assosistema BVT DTV FBT FTN GEIST  Tekstiilihuoltoliitto-ry TRSA TSA Sveriges-Tvätteriförbund VTS WFK

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