Often, it is not what you see but what you do not see that may be harmful. Perioperative nurses take care to protect themselves from the visible contamination by using personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves, and face shields, but many infectious organisms cannot be seen. Staff members may have done themselves a disservice by signing a statement indicating that they will not take contaminated attire from the facility. If someone were to become ill from an organism that was carried into the home, the facility would have no culpability as a result of the employee's having signed such a statement. All care and medical expense for the affected individual would be a personal responsibility.
Commercial laundries use specific laundering formulas that facilitate microbial kill.
Different formulas are used for different types of fabric. These formulas consist of multiple steps, which may include some or all of the following. Use of hot water and detergents with mechanical washing action. Addition of laundry sour to neutralize remaining alkalinity. Softeners, optical brighteners, and antistatic agents also may be used on some fabrics.