Specification :

Barrier concept: reducing the risk of infections in hospital & health care environments

Hospital & health care environments are nowadays faced with an increasing threat of microbiological contaminations, the so called ‘ hospital acquired infections’ ( HAI) . These environments all count numerous places where the risk of transmitting microbiological contamination is high. The interrelation of these places simplifies the spread of bacteria.

This risk also affects the laundry process. Bacteria coming from soiled linen through air, hands or human contact during improper handling or processing of laundry are an important cause of infection. Therefore, hospital & health care environments need to take preventive measures in order to avoid microbiological contamination in the laundry process.

The HM-range of barrier washer extractors offers a solution for this threat as it considerably reduces the risk of recontamination or cross contamination thanks to its ‘ dual door’ design.

The barrier washer extractors are built ‘ in’ a physical wall separating the loading & unloading side. This set-up ensures an optimal sanitation and avoids contact between clean, disinfected laundry & soiled, contaminated linen.

What are hospital-acquired infections?

Hospital acquired infections ( HAI) or ’ nosocomial’ infections affect patients during their stay in hospital. One of the most recurrent pathogens that occur with these infections is MRSA or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The term MRSA is used to describe organisms that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

Currently MRSA contaminations are on the rise in hospital & health care institutions, resulting in a greater risk of mortality and significantly higher treatment costs for patients with surgical side infections. Taking measures in the laundry process to reduce the risk of MRSA is therefore an absolute necessity.