title: Low-temperature washing of patients' clothing; effects of detergent with disinfectant and a tunnel drier on bacterial survival.
abstract: Patients' dresses were washed at 40 degrees C using an ordinary detergent for 1 week and a novel detergent with added 'Triclosan' for the following 2 weeks. The bacterial load on the finished laundry was acceptably low using either detergent. The killing of residual bacteria on washed clothing by drying in a tunnel finisher was demonstrated. This preliminary study did not show any benefits to be gained from the addition of 'Triclosan' to detergent for the low-temperature laundering of patients' clothing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Pontefract General Infirmary, West Yorkshire.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tompkins
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Fittall
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001512:Bedding and Linens / Q000592:standards*; D003902:Detergents; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007847:Laundry Service, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013696:Temperature; D014260:Triclosan / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014260:Triclosan