Maintaining Infection Control Practices

Maintaining Infection Control Practices

A Checklist for Laundry and Linen

[ ] Facility does not have an in-house laundry.

Type of washer:

_____Industrial _____poundage ___number

_____Other types: ___number

Chemicals used:
Bleach	[ ] yes [ ] no
Sours	[ ] yes [ ] no
others _________

Processing Temperature	Temp	Time of exposure*	Poundage
Washer #1 _____type	_____	______min	_______#
Washer #2 _____type	_____	______min	_______#
Washer #3 _____type	_____	______min	_______#
Washer #4 _____type	_____	______min	_______#

*Time of exposure to temperature

Temperature of drier		Temperature
Drier #1		__________F
Drier #2		__________F
Drier #3		__________F
Drier #4		__________F

Types of hampers:

roll plastic barrel without a liner:	[ ]

roll plastic barrel with a plastic liner:	[ ]

roll plastic barrel with a cloth bag liner:	[ ]

cloth hamper - self closing:	[ ]

cloth hamper with cover:	[ ]

plastic bags only:	[ ]

pillow cases are used as bags:	[ ]

Linen on patient/resident care areas:

Item	Yes	No	NA	Comments

Adequate supply of linen always available?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Linen transported to patient/resident room in a clean covered cart?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Soiled linen is removed from patient/resident room in a timely manner and not stored in the room in hampers?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Soiled or used linen is not placed on floors or chairs prior to placement in hampers?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Linen is bagged at patient/resident care areas?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Soiled linen is double-bagged if soaked with body fluids?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Soiled linen on the patient/resident floors are not shaken but handled as little as possible?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Hoppers are located in patient/resident areas (utility room)?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Excessive amount of linens are stored needlessly in patient’s room?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___________

Soiled linen area:

Item	Yes	No	NA	Comments

Does the facility post-sort?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Does the facility pre-sort?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

A hopper is located in soiled linen area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Laundry workers handle soiled with non-disposable gloves?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is soiled linen excessively shaken?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Laundry workers wash their hands when they remove gloves or when their hands are visibly soiled?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Gowns that prevent soak-through are readily available if soiling of clothing is likely?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Handwashing washing sinks are readily available containing soap and paper towel dispensers?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

There is a schedule for cleaning the soiled laundry area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Laundry workers have been in-serviced on cleaning procedures?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

On-site inspection demonstrated a clean soiled room area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

There is a quality assurance program to determine cleanliness of the soiled room area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

The dirty room sorting area is under negative pressure?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

There are 10 air-exchanges per hour in the soil room area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on Standard Precautions?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on barrier usage?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on prevention of needle sticks?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on needle stick injury follow-up?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on decontamination of blood on the floors?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on the hepatitis B vaccine?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

In-service education has been given on how to pick up needles or sharps from floors?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Needle box is present in soiled room area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Eye wash station is placed in soiled room area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Does the soiled room area maintain written documentation of problems and the methodologies used to resolve these problems?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Clean linen area:

Item	Yes	No	NA	Comments

Is the clean linen area physically separated from the soiled area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is closed shelving used in this area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is open shelving used in this area?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is area clean?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Clean tables are used for sorting?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is clean area under positive pressure?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Other notations:

Item	Yes	No	NA	Comments

Is there a written infection control manual for laundry?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is there a written contingency plan if washers break down?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is there documented evidence of ICP involvement?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Is the laundry supervisor a member of the infection control/quality assurance committee?	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	__________

Date checklist completed: _______________

Person performing audit: ________________

Immediate Corrections: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ICP’s recommendations: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Infection Control/Quality Assurance Committee recommendations: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature of Infection Control Practitioner: _____________________

Date: ____________

Signature of Laundry Supervisor: _____________________

Date: ____________

Signature of CEO or Administrator: ____________________

Date: ____________