When Not Cleaned Properly & Routinely, X-Ray Garments Can Develop Biofilms
What are Biofilms?
Biofilms are layers of bacteria & microorganisms that pack themselves into a community for protection – They build a protective shell or matrix around them for self-preservation! Alexander Epstein, of Harvard University, illustrated the tenacity of biofilms when he identified them to be more repellent of liquids, sprays and alcohol than the cooking surface Teflon!
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Biofilm Removal
“Biofilms are very difficult to eradicate.” – Dr. Timothy K. Lu, MIT The use of sprays, sanitizing wipes, washing machines, etc. may remove the top layer of the biofilm, but it likely then just spreads the biofilm out, rather than completely removing the biofilm matrix from the surface.
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CDC Cleaning Recommendations
The CDC advises that the use of friction should be employed to first clean all environmental surfaces, before the second step of sanitization/disinfection occurs. https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pubs.html Friction, decontamination and sanitization don’t occur through use of a washing machine!
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Smile!
Plaque on our teeth is a classic example of a biofilm! Simply rinsing your mouth with mouthwash will not eradicate the plaque – Most people have their teeth cleaned twice a year in which the plaque is scraped/removed before your teeth are then polished! (The use of friction removes the biofilm!)
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“Machine Wash Cold?”
Remember that X-ray garments are temperature sensitive and cannot be exposed to extreme temperatures!
Dr. Phillip Tierno, Microbiology Professor at NYU School of Medicine, positions that washing your clothes in low-temperature settings allows for germs to grow in the detergent drawer and in the door seals of the laundry machine. He further positions that staphylococcus can be found on clothing and towels and it would take water temperatures of 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit to kill such bacteria. Dr. Charles Gerba, Microbiology Professor at the University of Arizona, recommends washing your hands after you handle wet garments that have been run through low temperature cleaning cycles. Gerba positions that the surviving bacteria can build up biofilms in the washing machines and that these machines can test considerably dirtier than toilets and have been shown to carry pathogens such as klebsiella and pseudomonas! |
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Don't Believe the HYPE!
Not only are the clothes and garments not always being cleaned, but sometimes they are made worse by putting them in contaminated washing machines! Just because claims are made that something is “machine washable” does not mean that your garment will actually be cleaned during the process!
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