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Testing linen disinfection procedures in practice with phage-charged-bioindicators
Anja Gerhardts1, Helmut Mucha, Dirk Höfer
1Hohenstein Institute, Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology, Boennigheim, Germany.
Purpose:
Disinfecting laundry processes are essential to avoid contamination of laundering machines and linen during commercial laundry reprocessing in the health care sector. Recently a bacteriophage-charged bioindicator has been developed using MS2 as surrogate virus for testing of low-temperature disinfecting laundry processing on efficacy against viruses related to practice. This paper therefore aims to investigate application of MS2-bioindicators in chemothermal processes under practical conditions (phase 2/step 2) and in practice (phase 3).
Design/Methodology/Approach:
The experimental design was developed and modified according to the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) Standard Methods for Testing Chemical Disinfection Processes. Tests under practical conditions were performed at 60 degrees C and 70 degrees C. Additional tests in tunnel washers were carried out at 60 degrees C and 70 degrees C. In all experiments validated disinfecting laundry processes, recommended for bactericidal and virucidal performance (categories A and B), were applied.
Findings:
The results show a temperature-dependent gradual efficacy against the test virus MS2 up to reduction values of more than 8 log10-steps. Therefore MS2-bioindicators prove to be suitable as a tool to determine the performance of disinfection procedures against viruses in practice.
Originality/Value:
Phage-charged bioindicators may be a tool to provide further insights into the reliability of antiviral laundry processes for health care quality management and for infection control.
Insights
MS2-bacteriophage bioindicators effectively assess virus inactivation in healthcare laundry disinfection. These tools demonstrate temperature-dependent efficacy, proving valuable for ensuring reliable antiviral laundry processes and enhancing infection control.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infection Control
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Healthcare laundry reprocessing requires effective disinfection to prevent contamination.
- MS2 bacteriophage bioindicators offer a method for testing low-temperature laundry disinfection efficacy against viruses.
- Assessing antiviral efficacy in practical laundry settings is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the application of MS2-bioindicators in chemothermal laundry disinfection processes under practical conditions.
- To evaluate the efficacy of MS2-bioindicators in phase 2/step 2 and phase 3 testing scenarios.
- To validate the use of MS2-bioindicators for assessing antiviral performance in commercial laundry.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design adapted from German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) Standard Methods.
- Tests conducted at 60°C and 70°C under practical conditions and in tunnel washers.
- Application of validated disinfecting laundry processes with bactericidal and virucidal performance (Categories A and B).
Main Results:
- MS2-bioindicators demonstrated a temperature-dependent efficacy against the test virus MS2.
- Reduction values exceeding 8 log10-steps were observed, indicating high virucidal effectiveness.
- Results confirm the suitability of MS2-bioindicators for practical assessment of disinfection procedures.
Conclusions:
- MS2-bioindicators are effective tools for evaluating antiviral laundry processes.
- These bioindicators provide insights into the reliability of disinfection in healthcare settings.
- Phage-charged bioindicators contribute to quality management and infection control in healthcare laundry.
