The word "superbug" is a very scary new concept. The bacteria we have fought long and hard against by developing antibiotic medications were kept down for quite a while. Unfortunately, it now seems that they are evolving more rapidly than ever. This means that the infections and diseases that were once quite simple to treat are now complicated. While there is hope for the development of new antibiotics to rise to the challenge of fighting these strains, for now the best possible line of defense is to prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria before infections can even occur. Most people seem to have accepted the concept of proper hand sanitization, and this continues to be very important practice. The newest way to protect yourself and everyone around you is equally important: an awareness of the dangers that improperly sanitized linens and clothes may pose in the spread of disease.
Remember That Cloth Carries Germs
That cloth can carry germs is an easy fact to forget. However, we must keep this potential danger in mind. A recent study has revealed that one of the most dangerous strains of the bacteria that can cause staph infections, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is causing infections that have been transferred significantly through making contact with clothing and linens. This potentially fatal infection is particularly risky in a hospital setting, where many patients will have immune systems that will certainly not be up to the task of protecting them. It is critical, then, that hospitals have their linens, and ideally all uniforms and clothing as well, professionally sanitized by a laundering service. Though other precautions, like hand washing and sanitary bathroom conditions, are still very important, knowledge of these precautions is already very widespread. Most people know to keep their hands clean, especially after touching doorknobs and items in bathrooms. It is so easy to forget, however, that we spend a lot of time touching our own clothing, and patients their sheets, because these are not materials society has yet widely accepted as possible contamination carriers.
New Textile Technologies
Fortunately, in response to these increasingly antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, textile technology is improving. New materials are being made available that help to fight against the spread of infection. One of the main features of these super-linens is to be fluid-resistant. This means that fluids will be for the most part repelled away from the fabrics, which ideally will also repel the vast majority of the bacteria that they may contain. With rigorous laundering methods, along with the use of newly available fabrics, hospitals and other facilities with a high patient turnover should be taking every precaution necessary to prevent the spread of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.