Microbiological Benefits of Ozone in Laundering Systems

A major benefit of ozone in commercial laundry; systems is the control, disinfection, and/or total eradication of microorganisms normally found in/on soiled laundry. In hospitals, health care, retirement facilities, as well as in locker rooms of academic and professional athletes, in particular, certain microorganism strains exist and proliferate that are particularly resistant to modern medications. Numerous infections from the two currently prevalent superbugs - Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile, or C. diff) have created panics in recent years. Detailed studies conducted in the United Kingdom on both the routine microorganisms found in hospital and health care facilities (E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.) as well as four types of viruses, and in particular, the two superbugs (MRSA and C. difficile) are rapidly eradicated by ozone cold water laundering within a few minutes. Not only are microorganisms eradicated, but the laundering with ozone saves about half of the cost of current conventional laundering systems not incorporating ozone. Details of many studies conducted in the UK on the microbiological benefits of ozone in disinfecting and ensuring the absence of microorganisms are presented in this paper. These have shown that C. difficile spores are not consistently eliminated from microfibre mops and wiping cloths by conventional laundering processes. This means that this superbug can be spread around the facility when reused after conventional laundering, thus increasing the potential for possible re-infection of patients, staff, and visitors. Fortunately, ozone laundering totally eradicates C. difficile spores and eliminates this danger. Studies of the effects of repeated ozone laundering of microfibre inops and wiping cloths showed that ozone laundering has much lesser effects on the longevity of microfibre mops and cloths than do the conventional laundering systems Of today.