What is the guideline for laundering contaminated clothing?

Laundering contaminated clothing separately using gloves is crucial to minimize the risk of spreading bloodborne pathogens to other items and individuals. This guideline emphasizes the importance of treating potentially hazardous materials with caution. By using gloves, the individual handling contaminated clothing is protected from exposure to any pathogens or bodily fluids that might be present.

Separately washing contaminated items ensures that the infectious material does not come into contact with other clothing or linens, thereby preventing cross-contamination. Additionally, handling such clothing with care helps maintain a safe environment both for the person laundering the items and for anyone who might come into contact with them later.

Other methods, such as laundering with regular clothing or without gloves, could lead to unintentional exposure to these pathogens, increasing the risk of transmission. Using cold water only does not effectively kill pathogens as hot water and appropriate detergents may be necessary for proper disinfection.