The King Khalid Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Manual outlines standards for managing hospital laundry to protect workers from infectious materials. Key practices include proper handwashing, personal protective equipment usage, and minimizing agitation of soiled linen to prevent contamination. Additionally, it provides guidelines for washing, transporting, and storing clean linen to minimize microbial exposure.

1. ١
KING KHALID HOSPITAL
INFECTION PREVENTION
AND
CONTROL MANUAL
LAUNDRY
Dr. Nahla Abdel Kader, MD, PhD.
Infection Control Consultant, MOH
Infection Control CBAHI Surveyor
Infection Prevention Control Director
KKH.

2. ٢
To describe infection control standards for the hospital laundry in order
to protect the worker from exposure to potentially infectious materials
during collection, handling and sorting of soiled linen which may be
contaminated with blood and body fluids or other infectious material.
• Although soiled linen has been shown to be
a source of large numbers of pathogenic
organisms, the risk of actual disease
transmission is negligible.
• To reduce occupational risk of infection
transmission or/exposure, laundry workers
should focus on:
• Appropriate and frequent handwashing.
• Appropriate use personal protective apparel
• Removal of foreign objects from soiled
linen.

3. A. Nurses
PROCEDURE
٣

4. ٤
B. Soiled Linen






Train all personnel involved in the collection, transport, sorting
and washing of soiled linen to appropriately practice infection
control measures
Collect soiled linen in such a way as to minimize microbial
dissemination into the environment. Handle linen as little as
possible with minimal agitation to prevent gross microbial
contamination of the air and the persons handling the linen. Do not
prerinse or sort soiled linen in patient care areas.
Collect soiled linen in such a fashion as to keep the heavily soiled
portion contained in the center by folding or rolling the soiled spot
into the center. Place soiled linen in linen bags at the area where it
is generated. Cloth bags are adequate for the majority of soiled
linen.
Consider linen from isolation room as general soiled linen.
Double bagging is not necessary unless the primary bag is soaked
through.
Transport soiled linen in covered carts. Wash and disinfect carts
on a routine basis.
PPEs attire to laundry and staff.

5. ٥
C. Washing And Rinsing
The laundering process is designed to remove
organic soil and render the linen clean. High or
low temperature washing can be used in
washing linen:
High temperature: A temperature of at least 710C
(1600F) for a minimum of 25 minutes is
commonly recommended for hot water washing.
Low temperature: Lower temperature of 220C500C (710F-770F) can satisfactorily reduce
microbial contamination if the cycle of the
washer, the wash detergent, and the amount of
chlorine (bleach) to reach a total available
chlorine residual of 50-150ppm is monitored and
controlled.

6. ٦
D. Clean Linen
 Deliver clean linen to the user in such a way as to
minimize microbial contamination from surface
contact or airborne deposition. If same carts are used
for transporting soiled and clean linen, clean and
disinfect carts before transporting clean linen.
 Transport clean linen separately from soiled linen.
Cover or wrap prior and during transport as well as
during storage.
 Store clean linen, covered in clean area, separate
from potential sources of contamination.
 Send only surgical gowns and surgical drapes to
CSSD for sterilization prior to delivery.

7. ٧
E. Needle / Sharps Injuries
 Instruct laundry employees to report any sharps
injury occurring when handling linen, as well as any
improperly disposed sharps or needles.
 Provide sharp boxes in the soiled linen area to dispose
any improperly disposed sharps.

8. ٨