Could Washing Machines Be Spreading Antibiotic Resistance in Hospitals?

Healthcare staff who launder their uniforms at home might unintentionally be aiding the transmission of antibiotic-resistant infections within hospital settings.

This is highlighted in a recent study led by Professor Katie Laird from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), published this week in the open-access journal PLOS One.

Many healthcare industries provide uniforms to doctors and nursing staff, including scrubs, lab coats, and white coats, to ensure hygiene and reduce the risk of infection. Despite this, a large number of healthcare workers still wash their uniforms at home, which may not fully eliminate harmful bacteria.

Professor Laird’s research team examined domestic washing machines and discovered that even cycles using hot water at 60°C were not always sufficient to eliminate harmful bacteria from healthcare clothing. Many healthcare workers, including nurses, clean their uniforms, scrubs, and lab coats at home using standard washing machines, but previous research has indicated that clothing can carry bacteria. This raises concerns about whether home laundering is adequate to prevent the spread of dangerous microbes both in households and medical environments.

The researchers also collected biofilm samples from 12 washing machines. DNA analysis revealed the presence of potentially harmful bacteria and genes linked to antibiotic resistance. Further investigations suggested that some bacteria can even develop resistance to common household detergents, which in turn can enhance their resistance to certain antibiotics.

Overall, the study indicates that typical home washing machines may not fully decontaminate medical uniforms, potentially contributing to hospital-acquired infections and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since its publication, Professor Laird and her team have received significant media attention, with coverage appearing on major global news platforms.

The researchers recommend revising laundry guidelines for healthcare workers to ensure effective cleaning at home. Alternatively, they suggest that hospitals could provide industrial laundry facilities on-site to better protect patients and control the transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Professor Laird emphasized:

“Our findings show that domestic washing machines often fail to disinfect textiles, allowing antibiotic-resistant bacteria to persist. To effectively reduce infection transmission and combat antimicrobial resistance, we need to reconsider how healthcare workers’ uniforms, including scrubs, lab coats, and white coats, are laundered.”

Ensuring Hygiene and Safety with Yurinox Workwear

For healthcare professionals, ensuring uniforms are properly cleaned and safe is essential to protecting both patients and staff. At Yurinox Workwear, we specialize in high-quality medical uniforms designed for durability, comfort, and hygiene. From scrubs and lab coats to white coats worn by nurses and doctors in hospitals and clinics, our uniforms support safe practices in all medical environments.

Along with proper laundering practices, these uniforms help minimize the risk of spreading harmful bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, supporting safer workplaces for healthcare professionals, doctors, and the patients they serve.