The latest advancement in the battle against hospital-acquired infections isnt a new antibiotic drug, surgical procedure, protective apparel or even a sanitizer. It is bed linens treated with HaloShield, a patented technology that harnesses the antimicrobial properties of chlorine bleach to inhibit the growth of infection-causing pathogens on the fabric.Healthcare professionals have long considered bed linen to be a potential source of bacteria colonization and cross infection. In fact, guidelines from the CDC as well as the Fundamentals of Nursing textbook warn practitioners to handle contaminated textiles and fabrics with minimum agitation to avoid contamination of air, surfaces and persons. Medline Industries, Inc., the leading provider of textiles to the health care industry in the U.S., licenses HaloShield from Vanson HaloSource, with exclusive rights to distribute HaloShield-treated hospital sheets, pillowcases, scrubs and gowns in North and South America.How Does HaloShield Work?HaloShield is a special treatment applied to the sheet during the manufacturing process that harnesses the power of chlorine bleach to destroy the actual cell walls of the microbe, leaving nothing left to regenerate. As the HaloShield treated sheets are laundered with chlorine bleach, the special HaloShield treatment will grab the chlorine molecules and anchor them to the surface of the HaloShield treatment. When microbes come into contact with the sheet, the chlorine inhibits the growth of microbes within minutes.Hospital laundry protocols have long relied on chlorine-based sanitizers to kill and contain the spread of infection-causing viruses and bacteria in bed linens and other materials. Chlorine is perhaps the best antimicrobial agent in the world. HaloShield is the first and only coating that prolongs and enhances chlorines antimicrobial properties between launderings. The antimicrobial properties of the chlorine are renewed each time the HaloShield sheet is laundered in an EPA-registered chlorine-based sanitizer, consistent with standard hospital protocol.HaloShield is Effective, Safe and Automatic. Best of all, the power of HaloShield will last the lifetime of the fabric! HaloShield is also safe. HaloShield sheets have undergone extensive toxicology and skin irritation testing and were found to be non-irritating to the skin. HaloShield is automatic. No monitoring or special procedures to follow. HaloShield is thus a smart, protective measure that will add strength to any hospitals infection control protocol.Contact your local Medline sales representative to receive our complete test data.