Miele survey in veterinary practices reveals important findings

A recent survey carried out by Miele threw out some interesting results in regard to the veterinary sector, and in some cases the outcomes were more than a little worrying. First and foremost, it told us that more than 90% of veterinary professionals think hygiene and infection control to be ‘very important’, but in many instances the choice of laundry appliance falls below the highest standards.

It’s a matter of great concern to hear that more than 60% of veterinary practices in the survey are using a domestic washing machine rather than a commercial one. Domestic appliances are not required to conform to Water Regulations Advisory Scheme category 5 regulations, and as such they are unable to perform as well as they should in this hugely important sector.

Key findings from the survey

• 69% of staff members wash their uniforms at home
• Over 60% of practices use a domestic washing machine
• 83% of practices use their machines more than once a day
• Thermal disinfection will kill 99.99% of pathogenic germs

If practice managers and owners were to insist on using commercial machines instead, their veterinary laundry process would have the ability to offer thermal disinfection and, therefore, to minimise the risk of cross infection. Using a domestic machine in such circumstances may get items visually clean, but of course in this industry you need a great deal more than that.

Commercial machines make the veterinary laundry process safer

The vast majority of professionals who took part in the survey said they used their veterinary laundry appliances more than once a day, so their chosen machine has to handle a large throughput of items. A commercial appliance from Miele will be far better at handling such workloads, and the company’s well-deserved reputation for robustness and reliability makes them the number one choice.

Almost 70% of staff members in the survey admitted to taking their uniforms home to be washed in their own machines. This is an extremely worrying situation, because the potential for spreading diseases and infections is all too obvious. Clothing, bedding, drapes and theatre gowns should all remain on site, and should be dealt with by an appliance that has been designed to handle large loads on a daily basis.

Miele machines are used in hospitals, care homes, hospices, health clubs and throughout the hotel and restaurant sectors, and their ability to cope during busy periods makes them the ideal choice for the veterinary laundry process. Commercial filters in the machines allow them to trap animal hair, for example, enabling them to greatly minimise the risk of spreading infections.