Home Washing of Healthcare Uniforms May Spread Superbugs: New Study Warns
Laundry routines that many healthcare workers follow at home may be contributing to a silent crisis in infection control, according to a recent study. Researchers discovered that common home washing machines often fail to eliminate harmful bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant superbugs, even when set to high temperatures. This poses a potential risk for spreading dangerous pathogens in both healthcare and community settings.
Professor Katie Laird of De Montfort University Leicester, who led the study, emphasized that many home laundering methods do not meet the necessary disinfection standards set for professional settings. The study tested six different types of washing machines and found that half of them did not effectively disinfect contaminated fabrics in a rapid cycle, while a third failed to clean properly in a standard cycle.
The research highlights that even if healthcare workers follow all washing guidelines, half the machines in the study did not reach the correct temperature, the study found. This means that healthcare workers may still be exposed to pathogens despite following recommended protocols. Laird recommended that healthcare professionals and their institutions re-evaluate the policies that allow workers to wash their uniforms at home, advocating for standardized in-house laundering or the use of external industrial laundries to enhance infection control measures.
Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of the Textile Rental Services Association, warned that taking scrubs home and throwing them in the wash could