Biological agents in healthcare: current risks, new SRI guidelines, and the importance of reliable disinfection control

Biological agents are an increasing point of interest in healthcare. This collective term includes microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can cause serious health risks upon exposure, ranging from infections to allergies and poisoning. In hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities, the risk of spreading biological agents is high due to the intensive contact with patients, and the consequences of infection can be severe.

Biological agents and infection prevention: new SRI guidelines

Controlling biological agents is central to infection prevention policies. Previously, the Dutch WIP guidelines were leading, but these have largely been replaced by the new SRI guidelines. The SRI guidelines are up-to-date, reflect the latest scientific insights, and provide concrete instructions for the safe cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of medical devices and surfaces in healthcare. They also set clear standards for hygienic laundering of textiles.

A core principle of the SRI guidelines is demonstrable effectiveness: not only must the right products and methods be used, but the effectiveness of disinfection and sterilization processes must also be objectively proven.

The challenge: how can you be sure biological agents are truly eliminated?

Many healthcare facilities collaborate with certified laundromats for most textiles, but often use (semi-)professional washing machines for emergency laundry or cleaning materials. Even with high-quality equipment, the question remains: how can you prove that all biological agents are actually eliminated? Traditional chemical indicators only show that a sterilization process has occurred, not whether microorganisms have been quantitatively killed. For laundry, it is often stated that washing at a minimum of 60°C is required, but the program must maintain 60°C for at least 50 minutes (according to TNO’s time/temperature formula) to be effective. Bio-indicators offer the solution here, these are special test tools containing biological agents, such as resistant bacterial spores. By running these bio-indicators through the wash or sterilization process, you can objectively verify whether the process was truly effective. This aligns with the SRI guidelines, which emphasize demonstrable effectiveness.

Regular Self-Testing: Simple and Valuable

Regularly using a bio-indicator to check a disinfection or sterilization process offers several advantages:

• Demonstrable compliance with the latest SRI guidelines and legislation.
• Risk management: reduces the chance of outbreaks and infections by biological agents, directly contributing to patient safety and continuity of care.
• Efficiency and quality assurance: bio-indicators help optimize processes, improve audit results, and prove compliance with internal and external requirements.

Conclusion

Managing biological agents is more relevant than ever in healthcare. The new SRI guidelines further emphasize the importance of demonstrable, reliable disinfection and sterilization. By using bio-indicators in laundry and sterilization processes, your organization not only meets the latest guidelines but also ensures the highest level of safety for patients and staff.

If you are looking for a solution to objectively measure the effectiveness of your disinfection process according to the latest guidelines, consider how a DES-controller can help you truly control biological agents.