A huge benefit of ozone sanitation is its ability to kill truly dangerous micro-organisms.  These sometimes deadly bacteria and viruses can be transmitted by sharing water, utensils, and even bedding, or can be passed along on the clothes of a caregiver. Generally, ordinary sanitation practices like laundering with chlorine bleach cannot assure that threats like these are killed.

Even MRSA is Eliminated

The frightening “superbug” MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can be killed by ozone. This makes ozone laundry a perfect complement to the sanitation practices of hospitals and nursing homes where patients or residents with compromised immune systems can be overwhelmed by this aggressive organism. Ozone laundry in these facilities is part of the prudent preventative regime that is vitally important with something like MRSA that is so difficult to treat.

To be sure, the prevention regime also has to include other practices, such as cleaning surfaces with alcohol, which has been shown to be effective in stopping MRSA.

Other Organisms Killed by Ozone

There are many studies that document the ability of ozone to destroy micro-organisms, such as Norfolk virus, poliovirus 1, and bacteriophage MS2.  The important point is that the effect of ozone is very broad.  Here’s a partial list of the kinds of organisms destroyed by ozone:

• Bacillus anthracis
• Cryptosporidium (a threat in commercial pools and aquatics especially)
• Escherichia coli (e. coli)
• Listeria
• Salmonella enteritidis
• Streptococcus (various)

Ozone as Part of a Sanitation System

We need to emphasize that ozone cannot act alone as part of a prevention system in healthcare or hotel or group home environments. Operators need a comprehensive assessment of threats and a variety of preventative procedures in place. But among all options, ozone is one of, if not THE most potent micro-organism disinfectant when used properly in a targeted environment.

Where linens are exposed to bacterial or virus sources of infection, ozone laundry is a powerful solution — and it even saves money.