Angelica, the nation's leading provider of linen services, has issued guidance to its customers about handling linens used for patients being tested for Ebola.
Angelica advised the following, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
• Bag any linen used by a patient being tested for Ebola, including linen that arrived with the patient, in a regular soiled linen bag
• Store the bag in the patient's room
• If the patient tests positive for Ebola, the linen should be handled, packaged, transported and disposed of as a Category A infectious substance by the hospital and should not be returned to Angelica for laundering
"Ebola presents special challenges for hospitals and caregivers related to the handling of linens," said David Van Vliet, president and CEO of Angelica. "We want to ensure that our hospital and outpatient clients are informed about the latest guidance from the [CDC] and how to apply those guidelines to safely manage the linen supply."