Researchers have warned that health care workers who wash work clothes at home may unintentionally contribute to the spread of antibiotic -resistant infections in hospitals.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of De Montivort in England.
To assess whether home washing machines are able to sterilize the clothes of health care workers, researchers wash samples of contaminated fabric with hot water in 6 different washing machines for consumers, using quick and regular cleaning courses.
They found in a report published in the journal “Plus One” that half of these washing machines were unable to cleanse the clothes during the quick cycle, while a third of them failed to clean enough during the regular cycle.
After every washing process, the DNA sequence of biomedical membranes samples from inside these machines revealed the presence of bacteria that may cause pathogens and antibiotic -resistant genes.
“Our research showed that home washing machines often fail to sterilize clothes, allowing bacteria that resist antibiotics to survive,” the report authored in a statement said.
The researchers also found that bacteria can develop resistance to home detergents, which also raises their resistance to some antibiotics.
The researchers suggested modifying the washing guidelines provided to health care workers to ensure the effective cleaning of home washing machines.
“If we are serious about the transmission of infectious diseases through clothes and dealing with antimicrobial resistance, we must rethink how to wash what workers in the field of health care,” the researchers said.