Microfiber Pollution: A Systematic Literature Review to Overcome the Complexities in Knit Design to Create Solutions for Knit Fabrics.

The absence of standardized procedures to assess microfiber pollution released during laundering, alongside textile complexities, has caused incomparability and inconsistency between published methodologies, data formats, and presentation of findings. Yet, this information needs to be clear and succinct to engage producers and consumers in reducing microfiber pollution through solutions, such as eco-design. This review analyses source directed interventions through design and manufacturing parameters that can prevent or reduce microfiber shedding from knit fabrics during washing. Contradicting results are critically evaluated and future research agendas, alongside potential areas for voluntary and involuntary sustainable incentives are summarized. To do this, a systematic review was carried out, using the PRISMA approach to verify which fabrics had been investigated in terms of microfiber shedding. Using selected keywords, a total number of 32 articles were included in this review after applying carefully developed inclusion and exclusion criteria. The influence of fabric parameters such as fiber polymer, length of fibers and yarn twist alongside fabric construction parameters such as gauge of knit and knit structure are critically evaluated within the systematically selected studies. This review highlights the agreed upon fabric parameters and constructions that can be implemented to reduce microfiber pollution released from knit textiles. The complexities and inconsistencies within the findings are streamlined to highlight the necessary future research agendas. This information is critical to facilitate the adoption of cross-industry collaboration to achieve pollution reduction strategies and policies. We call for more systematic studies to assess the relationship between individual textile parameters and their influence on microfiber shedding. Additionally, studies should work toward standardization to increase comparability between studies and created more comprehensive guidelines for policy development and voluntary actions for the textile and apparel industry to participate in addressing more sustainable practises through eco-design.

Complete genome sequence of Bacillus Licheniformis NWMCC0046, a candidate for the laundry industry.

In this study, selected properties of protease and the complete genome sequence of Bacillus licheniformis NWMCC0046 were investigated, to discover laundry applications and other potential probiotic properties of this strain. Partial characterization of B. licheniformis NWMCC0046 showed that its protease has good activity both in alkaline environments and at low temperatures. Also, the protease is compatible with commercial detergents and can be used as a detergent additive for effective stain removal at low temperatures. The complete genome sequence of B. licheniformis NWMCC0046 is comprised of a 4,321,565 bp linear chromosome with a G + C content of 46.78% and no plasmids. It had 4504 protein-encoding genes, 81 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 24 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Genomic analysis revealed genes involved in exocellular enzyme production and probiotic properties. In addition, genomic sequence analysis revealed specific genes encoding carbohydrate metabolism pathways, resistance, and cold adaptation capacity. Overall, protease properties show its potential as a detergent additive enzyme. The complete genome sequence information of B. licheniformis NWMCC0046 was obtained, and functional prediction revealed its numerous probiotic properties.

Impact of quantification method on microfiber assessment - A comparative analysis between mass and count based methods.

Microfiber from textiles is one of the new anthropogenic pollutants which attracted a wide range of researchers. Domestic laundry, being the most common cause of microfiber release from textiles, is widely studied. Studies exhibit a broad range of quantities of microfibers owing to the distinct quantification methodologies employed due to their convenience and resource availability. Out of several such estimation processes, reporting microfiber quantity in numbers or mass (mg or g) is quite common with respect to the unit area or weight of the textile used. However, results reported by different literature vary significantly. Hence, this study aims to analyze the microfiber release from knitted polyester fabric using count- and mass-based methods. Four different fabrics were used for this study with three different counting processes from literature along with direct weight difference estimation. The results of the direct counting method showed that the average microfiber release of selected fabrics is 13.28-33.16 microfibers per sq.cm, whereas, the direct weight estimation showed an average weight of 0.0664 ± 0.0289 mg/sq.cm. The subsequent conversion showed a release of 887.89 ± 633.49 microfibers/sq.cm of the fabric. Further, the microfiber mass was also estimated using the number of microfiber count and found that a sq.cm of fabric releases up to 0.0010-0.0024 mg of microfibers. While comparing the results, the weight-based estimation showed a significantly higher microfiber release (41.3-42.9 times) than the direct counting method. The deposition of surfactants in detergents, contaminants from the water, atmospheric contaminants, and finishes released from the fabric can be the sources of additional weights noted in the direct mass estimation. As the weight-based method is quite simple and the fastest way to quantify the microfibers, future studies must focus on this area to reduce the error percentage in quantification.

Direct STR profiling from laundered bloodstains: an investigation of different factors of laundering.

Bloodstains on fabrics may be washed or cleaned to eliminate incriminating evidence. These actions reduce the chances of obtaining an interpretable DNA profile. Previous studies have shown that conventional short-tandem repeat (STR) typing is affected by various factors associated with washing or laundering of stains. Here, we aim to increase the chances of obtaining interpretable STR profiles from laundered bloodstains using direct PCR. Preliminary investigations showed direct STR typing resulted in more alleles compared to conventional STR typing. We then further investigated the following factors with direct STR typing: fabric type (cotton, polyester, and denim), washing method (hand-washing and machine-washing), type of detergents (powder and liquid), washing temperature (cold to 90 °C), pretreatment agents (sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide), and the number of washes (one, three, and five). Direct PCR could be successfully used for STR typing from laundered bloodstains with very high success rates. Among the three fabric types, only denim negatively affected direct STR typing, while laundering of bloodstains on cotton and polyester had a negligible effect as mostly full profiles were obtained. Multiple washes resulted in a decrease in both the numbers of alleles and peak heights. Surprisingly, washing method, type of detergent, washing temperature, and pretreatment agents only had minimal to no effect on STR profile quality. Due to the robustness and sensitivity of direct STR typing from laundered bloodstains, the method could be beneficial for violent crime investigations in forensic DNA laboratories worldwide.

The perchloroethylene-induced toxicity in dry cleaning workers lymphocytes through induction of oxidative stress.

Evaluation of the compounds and metabolites, and studying their side effects in the workplace is essential. This study was designed to evaluate the exposure of dry  cleaning workers to perchloroethylene (PEC), and its liver and kidney damage, and oxidative stress in B-lymphocytes isolated from the workers. Blood samples were evaluated for liver (alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]) and kidney (BUN and creatinine) markers. For measurement of PEC, exhaled, personal, and ambient air samples were collected and analyzed gas chromatography (GC-FID) through the NIOSH 1003 and 3704 methods. Also, the parameters of oxidative stress including the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in B-lymphocytes were evaluated. The results showed that the levels of liver enzymes ALT and AST in dry cleaning workers are higher than in the control group. The personal exposure levels and exhaled air concentration of PEC in dry cleaning workers were above the recommended national occupational exposure limits (OELs) and the biological exposure index (BEI). The levels of ROS, LPO, and GSSG in B-lymphocytes from the dry cleaning workers are higher than the control group, and the levels of GSH in dry cleaning workers are lower. The results suggested that exposure of dry cleaning workers to PEC could be associated with liver damage and oxidative damage in B-lymphocytes.

Quantifying pathogen infection risks from household laundry practices.

AIMS: Contaminated laundry can spread infections. However, current directives for safe laundering are limited to healthcare settings and not reflective of domestic conditions. We aimed to use quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate household laundering practices (e.g., detergent selection, washing and drying temperatures, and sanitizer use) relative to log10 reductions in pathogens and infection risks during the clothes sorting, washer/dryer loading, folding and storing steps. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using published data, we characterized laundry infection risks for respiratory and enteric pathogens relative to a single user contact scenario and a 1.0 × 10-6 acceptable risk threshold. For respiratory pathogens, risks following cold water wash temperatures (e.g. median 14.4℃) and standard detergents ranged from 2.2 × 10-5 to 2.2 × 10-7 . Use of advanced, enzymatic detergents reduced risks to 8.6 × 10-8 and 2.2 × 10-11 respectively. For enteric pathogens, however, hot water, advanced detergents, sanitizing agents and drying are needed to reach risk targets. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Conclusions provide guidance for household laundry practices to achieve targeted risk reductions, given a single user contact scenario. A key finding was that hand hygiene implemented at critical control points in the laundering process was the most significant driver of infection prevention, additionally reducing infection risks by up to 6 log10 .

Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in fabrics in a contaminated building, and the effect of laundering.

This research investigates sorption of PCBs to fabrics in a contaminated indoor environment and the effect of laundering on PCB removal from the fabrics. Eight articles of clothing were exposed to the air in a PCB-contaminated building. The background air concentration was 670 ng/m3 PCBtotal with PCB-52 being the main congener. Air and fabric samples were collected for analysis before and periodically throughout the experiment. After 25 weeks, the remaining fabrics were washed and cut into three pieces each. One part was dried in the contaminated building, second in a PCB-free building and third in a mechanical drier. The PCB mass concentration increased during the first 6-10 weeks for all investigated fabrics, after which some fabrics approached equilibrium for more volatile congeners. Mass-normalized cloth-air partition coefficients were quantified for 9 congeners; for PCB-52, these ranged from 106.1 to 107.0 which were consistent with previously reported values. Partition coefficients of PCBs were observed to increase with their respective octanol-air partition coefficients. Washing and drying clothes resulted in the removal between 22% and 84% of PCBs. There was no difference in removal percentage after air-drying in clean or contaminated air. Drying in a mechanical drier removed significantly more PCBs than air-drying.

Survival of Clostridioides difficile spores in thermal and chemo-thermal laundering processes and influence of the exosporium on their adherence to cotton bed sheets.

Clostridioides difficile spores were previously demonstrated to survive industrial laundering. Understanding interactions between heat, disinfectants and soiling (e.g. bodily fluids) affecting C. difficile spore survival could inform the optimization of healthcare laundry processes. Reducing spore attachment to linen could also enhance laundering efficacy. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity of C. difficile spores to heat and detergent, with and without soiling and to investigate adherence to cotton. Survival of C. difficile spores exposed to industrial laundering temperatures (71-90°C), reference detergent and industrial detergent was quantified with and without soiling. The adherence to cotton after 0 and 24 h air drying was determined with the exosporium of C. difficile spores partially or fully removed. Clostridioides difficile spores were stable at 71°C for 20 min (≤0·37 log10 reduction) while 90°C was sporicidal (3 log10 reduction); soiling exerted a protective effect. Industrial detergent was more effective at 71°C compared to 25°C (2·81 vs 0·84 log10 reductions), however, specifications for sporicidal activity (>3 log10 reduction) were not met. Clostridioides difficile spores increasingly adhered to cotton over time, with 49% adherence after 24 h. Removal of the exosporium increased adherence by 19-23% compared to untreated spores. Further understanding of the role of the exosporium in attachment to cotton could enhance spore removal and aid decontamination of linen.

What's Up Your Sleeve? A Scoping Review of White Coat Contamination and Horizontal Microbial Transmission.

OBJECTIVES: White coats have been suggested to serve as fomites carrying and transmitting pathogenic organisms and potentially increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). We aimed to examine the current evidence regarding white coat contamination and its role in horizontal transmission and HAIs risk. We also examined handling practices and policies associated with white coat contamination in the reviewed literature. METHODS: We conducted a literature search through PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection/Cited Reference Search, and manually searched the bibliographies of the articles identified in electronic searches. Studies published up to March 3, 2021 that were accessible in English-language full-text format were included. RESULTS: Among 18 included studies, 15 (83%) had ≥100 participants, 16 (89%) were cross-sectional studies, and 13 (72%) originated outside of the United States. All of the studies showed evidence of microbial colonization. Colonization with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was reported in 100% and 44% of the studies, respectively. Antibacterial-resistant strains, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant organisms were reported in 8 (44%) studies. There was a lack of studies assessing the link between white coat contamination and HAIs. The data regarding white coat handling and laundering practices showed inconsistencies between healthcare facilities and a lack of clear policies. CONCLUSIONS: There is robust evidence that white coats serve as fomites, carrying dangerous pathogens, including multidrug-resistant organisms. A knowledge gap exists, however, regarding the role of contaminated white coats in HAI risk that warrants further research to generate the evidence necessary to guide the current attire policies for healthcare workers.

The Detection of Foreign Items in Laundry Industry by Dual-Energy X-ray Transmission-Advantages and Limits.

Firefighters, paramedics, nursing staff, and other occupational groups are in constant need of fast and proper cleaning of their professional workwear, not only during a pandemic. Thus, laundry technology needs to become more efficient and automated. Unfortunately, some steps of the cleaning process, such as finding and removing foreign items from pockets or belts, are still completed manually. This is not just time-consuming but potentially dangerous for the workers due to the hazardous nature of items such as scissors, scalpels, or syringes. Additionally, some items may damage the garments by staining or harm the laundry machines, causing malfunctions and process failure. On the one hand, these foreign items are often hidden inside the clothes, making detection very challenging with conventional superficial sensors. On the other hand, these items can be diverse and cannot be detected by metal detectors alone. X-ray transmission has proven to be a powerful tool for detecting items inside of objects. The dual-energy approach (DE-XRT) even allows obtaining quantitative information about the chemical composition of the measured materials. In this study, working garments were accompanied and filled with realistic foreign items. The potential of DE-XRT to detect those items was successfully shown.

Laundry Hygiene and Odor Control: State of the Science.

Laundering of textiles-clothing, linens, and cleaning cloths-functionally removes dirt and bodily fluids, which prevents the transmission of and reexposure to pathogens as well as providing odor control. Thus, proper laundering is key to controlling microbes that cause illness and produce odors. The practice of laundering varies from region to region and is influenced by culture and resources. This review aims to define laundering as a series of steps that influence the exposure of the person processing the laundry to pathogens, with respect to the removal and control of pathogens and odor-causing bacteria, while taking into consideration the types of textiles. Defining laundering in this manner will help better educate the consumer and highlight areas where more research is needed and how to maximize products and resources. The control of microorganisms during laundering involves mechanical (agitation and soaking), chemical (detergent and bleach), and physical (detergent and temperature) processes. Temperature plays the most important role in terms of pathogen control, requiring temperatures exceeding 40°C to 60°C for proper inactivation, while detergents play a role in reducing the microbial load of laundering through the release of microbes attached to fabrics and the inactivation of microbes sensitive to detergents (e.g., enveloped viruses). The use of additives (enzymes) and bleach (chlorine and activated oxygen) becomes essential in washes with temperatures below 20°C, especially for certain enteric viruses and bacteria. A structured approach is needed that identifies all the steps in the laundering process and attempts to identify each step relative to its importance to infection risk and odor production.

A review of clothing microbiology: the history of clothing and the role of microbes in textiles.

Humans have worn clothing for thousands of years, and since its invention, clothing has evolved from its simple utilitarian function for survival to become an integral part of society. While much consideration has been given to the broad environmental impacts of the textile and laundering industries, little is known about the impact wearing clothing has had on the human microbiome, particularly that of the skin, despite our long history with clothing. This review discusses the history of clothing and the evolution of textiles, what is and is not known about microbial persistence on and degradation of various fibres, and what opportunities for the industrial and environmental application of clothing microbiology exist for the future.

Development of a silver-based dual-function antimicrobial laundry additive and textile coating for the decontamination of healthcare laundry.

AIMS: To repurpose a silver-based antimicrobial textile coating product (Micro-Fresh 1911) as a dual-function antimicrobial laundry additive and textile coating. METHODS AND RESULTS: Survival of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus type and clinical isolates in a domestic 40°C wash was assessed with and without soiling and biological detergent. Washing with 2% w/v silver additive (wash phase) reduced E. coli and S. aureus by 7·14-8·08 log10 and no cross-contamination was observed. Under dirty conditions, 0·5% silver additive in the rinse phase of a wash with biological detergent reduced E. coli and S. aureus by 7·98-8·40 log10 (0·00-1·42 log10 cross contamination). BS EN ISO 20645:2004 and BS EN ISO 20743:2013 methods were used to assess the antimicrobial activity of polycotton washed with 2% w/v silver additive against S. aureus and E. coli. The treated polycotton was antimicrobial against E. coli and S. aureus type and clinical isolates and remains active after at least one further wash cycle at 40 or 73°C. CONCLUSIONS: The silver additive exhibits antimicrobial activity in a 40°C domestic wash, preventing cross contamination onto clean textiles and depositing an antimicrobial coating onto polycotton. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The survival of micro-organisms on healthcare uniforms during domestic laundering presents a potential risk of contaminating the home, cross-contamination of other clothing within the wash and transmitting potential pathogens back into healthcare settings via contaminated uniforms. Silver may be useful as an antimicrobial laundry additive to decontaminate healthcare laundry washed at low temperatures in domestic and industrial settings, to therefore reduce the potential risk of transmitting micro-organisms within the domestic and clinical environments.

Assessing decontamination and laundering processes for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and flame retardants from firefighting uniforms.

Firefighter uniforms protect firefighters from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals including a range of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Contaminated uniforms can become a secondary source of firefighters' exposure to these chemicals. There is inconsistency on the removal efficiency of SVOCs during the cleaning, laundering and field decontamination of firefighting uniforms. Therefore, this study aims to assess how effective decontamination and laundering processes are in reducing firefighter uniforms as a vector for transport and exposure to SVOCs. Firefighters who had attended a controlled house fire and simulated container burns had their uniforms sampled pre- and post-laundering. Clean station wear was laundered with contaminated uniforms and after a load of contaminated uniforms to assess inter and intra load contamination. Surface wipes were collected from uniforms across 12 fire stations, after they had returned from a laundering provider. Concentrations of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), six organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in the collected samples. The concentrations of ∑13 PAHs in firefighters uniforms ranged between 0.063 and 43 µg g-1, while concentration of ∑6 OPFRs were between 0.061 and 90 µg g-1 with ∑7 PBDEs concentrations being measured between 0.00054 and 0.97 µg g-1.The highest concentrations of ∑13 PAHs were measured on the outer layers of gloves at an average of 19 µg g-1, with the highest ∑6 OPFRs concentrations being measured in the middle layers of gloves at an average of 31 µg g-1. The highest ∑7 PBDEs concentrations were measured on the shell layers of turnout jackets at 0.42 µg g-1. The significant reduction in ∑13 PAHs after laundering or decontamination was only found in 3 of the 16 sampled areas from firefighting uniforms. No significant differences were found in the between pre- and post-laundering concentrations of ∑6 OPFRs or ∑7 PBDEs in firefighting uniforms. The current laundering techniques do not appear to effectively remove PAHs, OPFRs and PBDEs at the measured concentrations from firefighters' uniforms. Further research is required to assess if chemical exposure though firefighting uniforms poses a health risk to firefighters and to develop methods for the removal of SVOCs from firefighting uniforms.

Influence of Hydrogen Peroxide on Disinfection and Soil Removal during Low-Temperature Household Laundry.

In the Water, Energy and Waste Directive, the European Commission provides for the use of household washing programmes with lower temperatures (30-40 °C) and lower water consumption. However, low washing temperatures and the absence of oxidising agents in the liquid detergents, and their reduced content in powder detergents, allow biofilm formation in washing machines and the development of an unpleasant odour, while the washed laundry can become a carrier of pathogenic bacteria, posing a risk to human health. The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition of hydrogen peroxide (HP) to liquid detergents in low-temperature household washing allows disinfection of the laundry without affecting the properties of the washed textiles even after several consecutive washes. Fabrics of different colours and of different raw material compositions were repeatedly washed in a household washing machine using a liquid detergent with the addition of 3% stabilised HP solution in the main wash, prewash or rinse. The results of the antimicrobial activity, soil removal activity, colour change and tensile strength confirmed the excellent disinfection activity of the 3% HP, but only if added in the main wash. Its presence did not discolour nor affect the tensile strength of the laundry, thus maintaining its overall appearance.

Effects of firefighting hood design, laundering and doffing on smoke protection, heat stress and wearability.

Firefighter hoods must provide protection from elevated temperatures and products of combustion (e.g. particulate) while simultaneously being wearable (comfortable and not interfering with firefighting activities). The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of (1) hood design (traditional knit hood vs particulate-blocking hood), (2) repeated laundering, and (3) hood removal method (traditional vs overhead doffing) on (a) protection from soot contamination on the neck, (b) heat stress and (c) wearability measures. Using a fireground exposure simulator, 24 firefighters performed firefighting activities in realistic smoke and heat conditions using a new knit hood, new particulate-blocking hood and laundered particulate-blocking hood. Overall, soot contamination levels measured from neck skin were lower when wearing the laundered particulate-blocking hoods compared to new knit hoods, and when using the overhead hood removal process. No significant differences in skin temperature, core temperature, heart rate or wearability measures were found between the hood conditions. Practitioner Summary: The addition of a particulate-blocking layer to firefighters' traditional two-ply hood was found to reduce the PAH contamination reaching the neck but did not affect heat stress measurements or thermal perceptions. Modifying the process for hood removal resulted in a larger reduction in neck skin contamination than design modification. Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; B: new particulate-blocking hood and PPE (PPE configuration); FES: fireground exposure simulator; GI: gastrointestinal; K: new knit hood and PPE (PPE configuration); L: laundered particulate-blocking hood and PPE (PPE configuration); LOD: limit of detection; MLE: maximum likelihood estimation; NFPA: National fire protection association; PAH: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; PPE: personal protective equipment; SCBA: self-contained breathing apparatus; THL: total heat loss; TPP: thermal protective performance.

CORRUPTIVE INCOMINGS LAUNDERING IN THE MEDICAL SPHERE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Characteristic of corruptive incomings laundering in the medical sphere and research of components for counteraction to this phenomenon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Some methods were used to ensure the completeness and complexity of scientific research: dialectical, formal, legal, epistemological, and systemstructural methods. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It was concluded that corruptive incomings laundering in the medical sphere is becoming commonplace. New ways, means, and schemes for the commission of this crime are appearing. The authors analyze the main methods for corruptive incomings laundering in the medical sphere: during the purchase of medicines and medical equipment, during the procurements of medical preparations and medical equipment, building restoration and renovation, where health care facilities are located, price-fixing and gifting of chief medical officers. A comprehensive system of organizational, legal, and economic measures must be formed that will provide effective counteraction to the corruptive incomings laundering in the medical sphere.

Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters.

Textiles are one of the major sources of microplastic pollution to aquatic environments and have also been reported in dry and wet atmospheric deposition. There is still a lack of information on the direct release of microfibers from garments to the air and on the influence of textile characteristics including structure, type of yarn, and twist. The present study examines microfiber emissions directly to the air and to water as a consequence of laundering. Polyester garments with different textile characteristics were examined including various material compositions, fabric structure, yarn twist, fiber type, and hairiness. Scaling up our data indicates release of microfibers per person per year to the air is of a similar order of magnitude to that released to wastewater by laundering. The lowest releases to both air and water were recorded for a garment with a very compact woven structure and highly twisted yarns made of continuous filaments, compared with those with a looser structure (knitted, short staple fibers, lower twist). Our results demonstrate for the first time that direct release of microfibers from garments to air as a consequence of wear is of equal importance to releases to water. Currently there is considerable interest in interventions focused on capture from wastewater. However, our results suggest more effective interventions are likely to result from changes in textile design that could reduce emissions to both air and water.

Microbial Contamination of Medical Staff Clothing During Patient Care Activities: Performance of Decontamination of Domestic Versus Industrial Laundering Procedures.

The efficacy of domestic laundering of healthcare staff clothing is still debated. This study aimed to compare the performance of decontamination of different domestic laundering with that of industrial laundering. Fourteen naturally contaminated white coats of healthcare workers (5 fabric squares from each coat) and fabric squares of artificially contaminated cotton cloth (30 fabric squares per each bacterial strain used) were included. Four domestic laundering procedures were performed; two different washing temperatures (40 °C and 90 °C) and drying (tumble dry and air dry) were used. All fabric squares were ironed. Presence of bacterial bioburden on the fabric squares after domestic and industrial laundering was investigated. None of the naturally contaminated fabric squares resulted completely decontaminated after any of the domestic washes. At 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation, bacterial growth was observed in all the laundered fabric squares. Besides environmental microorganisms, potentially pathogenic bacteria (i.e., Acinetobacter lwoffii, Micrococcus luteus, coagulase-negative staphylococci) were isolated. On the artificially contaminated fabric squares, the bioburden was reduced after the domestic laundries; nevertheless, both Gram-negative and -positive pathogenic bacteria were not completely removed. In addition, a contamination of the fabric squares by environmental Gram-negative bacteria was observed. In both the naturally and artificially contaminated fabric squares, no bacterial growth at all the time-points analyzed was observed after industrial laundering, which provided to be more effective in bacterial decontamination than domestic washes. For those areas requiring the highest level of decontamination, the use of specialized industrial laundry services should be preferred.

Interventions to promote hotel workers' health: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The hospitality industry employs millions of workers and is a key contributor to the US economy. Despite being essential drivers in the industry's success, hotel workers, particularly hotel housekeepers, are exposed to occupational hazards and experience disproportionate rates of injuries and chronic health conditions. Thus there is a significant need for health promotion efforts directed toward these workers. However, little is known about existing interventions targeting their health. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review to identify and appraise workplace health promotion interventions targeting hotel employees. We performed a scoping review following the framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Our literature search process was recorded using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Basic study information was compiled into a matrix table. Study quality was assessed using the template for intervention description and replication. RESULTS: Eight unique interventions were identified, occurring at over 30 hotels with participants ranging between 16 and 1207 employees. Though many of the reported health outcomes were not statistically significant, studies reported results with clinical implications, including decreased numbers of injury claims, reduced anxiety, improvements in cardiovascular disease risk indicators, such as body mass index, and increased knowledge among participants. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first review to interrogate the literature on existing workplace interventions targeting the health of hotel workers. While some studies found significant improvements in health outcomes, few conducted rigorous program evaluation. The results highlight the need for more and effective interventions targeting these at-risk workers.