The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) has called for a consensus on laundry processing standards after linens, towels and gowns were identified by researchers as the likely carriers of a deadly fungus at New Orleans Children's Hospital, according to a blog on the McKnights website.

“Hospitals, nursing homes and all healthcare facilities should demand it,” Gregory Gicewicz, president of HLAC.

“There are millions of standards out there, but the problem is there are lots of different standards from different groups,” Gicewicz said in a blog written by McKnights editor James Berklan. “We've put together standards — more than 600 of them — based on all of these organizations that have standards or laws.”

Since 2005, HLAC has been sending inspection teams into facilities to address any shortcomings. The tab is $5,000, and that doesn't include any corrective steps that are assigned. The accreditation team makes a one-day visit and an approval rating lasts for three years, the blog said

Read the blog.