Blankets and air hygiene: a report of a trial of blanket disinfection

1. The effect of blanket-disinfection on aerial contamination of exposed culture plates was studied during a six-month trial in six hospital units, containing a total of 270 beds. 2. Disinfecting blankets after use by each patient did not significantly reduce general bacterial or Staph. aureus counts on exposed culture plates. 3. Disinfected blankets were heavily recontaminated after only a few days' use. A quaternary-ammonium rinse during laundering conferred no self-disinfecting properties on them. 4. Cotton-cellular blankets were more economical and more popular with patients and nurses than were conventional woollen and two other types of cotton blanket.