The ozone slayer
June 1st 2007 An increasing number of hospitals are now using a laundry system which kills
bacteria, viruses and superbugs on all wash cycles, says JLA
More than 1,300 OTEX validated ozone disinfection systems
have been installed at healthcare sites throughout the UK
and 11 NHS trusts are among those using the system.The
trusts have opted for OTEX following a successful six-month trial at
the QE II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City.The trial was overseen by
hospital infection control experts and independent microbiologists at
the request of East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.
Following the trial, microbiologists reported:"Without question, the
OTEX system has proven to be a more effective method of laundering
microfibre mops and cloths than current thermal disinfection
processes. Its effectiveness against specific types of bacteria, in
particular spore forming bacteria, has been found to be superior."
OTEX has been developed by commercial laundry equipment
distributor, JLA, in response to mounting concern about the
effectiveness of conventional thermal disinfection wash cycles
against superbugs.
NHS guidelines recommend that infected and foul laundry
is preferably washed at a temperature of 71 °C for a minimum of
three minutes. But microbiological tests have shown that this process
does not kill Clostridium difficile – now a bigger killer than MRSA
with cases more than doubling in hospitals in only five years.
When scientists tested a mop which had been used on a hospital
ward and subsequently thermally disinfected as per the guidelines, it
was found to be still teeming with a staggering 150,000 colonies of
Clostridium difficile spores.
In another test,water containing Clostridium difficile was held at a
temperature of 80 °C for 15 minutes.Despite the fact that this was far
hotter and longer than the official recommendation, the reduction in
spores was found to be 'insignificant'.
However, when similar tests were carried out on water which had
undergone the OTEX process, there was 'no viable trace' of
Clostridium difficile spores after only
two-and-a-half minutes.
OTEX, which also destroys
MRSA,works by injecting ozone
– the powerful natural
disinfectant – into the wash
process. It features an oxygen
concentrator, an ozone
generator and a specialised
'interfusor'device.
The concentrator converts air
to 90 per cent oxygen and the
generator separates oxygen
atoms with electrical arcs to
create ozone.The interfusor then
makes the ozone soluble by
defusing it into water in the
drum of a washing machine.
OTEX uses mostly cold water and kills bugs on every wash cycle,
eliminating the risk of error by inexperienced or forgetful laundry
staff.
"Our own research has proved that thermal disinfection cycles are
frequently not used in laundries in healthcare environments when
they should be," says JLA business development director Dick Cardis.
"OTEX counteracts the risk of user error and provides complete peace
of mind."
By washing at low temperatures, the system has the added benefit
of dramatically cutting energy costs and thereby reducing carbon
footprints. JLA has calculated that the number of systems currently in
use will this year save a total of £2 million and almost 4,500 tonnes of
carbon dioxide – the equivalent of nearly 7,000 trees.
OTEX is proving popular with care homes as well as hospitals and
customers in the sector include major groups such as BUPA,
Barchester and Southern Cross.
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), which registers,
inspects and reports on social care in England, has confirmed that the
system fully complies with the National Minimum Standards care
regulations. More articles from JLA Ltd: | 
