A recent study has raised alarms about the role of home-based laundry in the propagation of antibiotic-resistant superbugs in hospital settings. The study suggests that healthcare professionals including nurses, who often wash their uniforms at home, may unknowingly contribute to the spread of these dangerous pathogens.
The research team, led by Professor Katie Laird at De Montfort University in Leicester, found that home washing machines often fail to eradicate antibiotic-resistant bacteria from textiles including uniforms. The findings of the study, which were published in the reputed scientific journal PLOS One, suggest that standard domestic laundering might not be adequate in combating the spread of these lethal bugs.
The researchers scrutinized six models of home washing machines to ascertain whether they could successfully decontaminate healthcare worker uniforms. These fabrics were subjected to hot water washing in both rapid and standard cycles. Disturbingly, half of the machines failed to disinfect the clothing during a rapid cycle, with a third failing even during the standard cycle.
In addition to this, the team conducted DNA sequencing on biofilms obtained from 12 washing machines. Their findings corroborated the presence of potentially hazardous bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, strongly suggesting that household washing machines could be a unsettling source of such pathogens.
Moreover, the study also showed that bacteria can develop resistance to domestic detergents, thereby escalating their resistance against certain antibiotics. Hence, home washing machines might not only be inadequate in sterilizing healthcare worker uniforms, but may also contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Given these findings, the research team – funded by De Montfort University and the Textile Services Association – envisages that the laundering guidelines issued to healthcare workers might need to be revised. They propose ensuring that home washing methods are effective, or alternatively, advocate for the utilization of on-site industrial laundering facilities in healthcare settings to bolster patient safety and curb the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.