Home Washing Machines May Be Spreading Hospital Infections, UK Study Finds
A new study reveals that common household washing machines may be inadvertently contributing to the spread of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance, raising concerns about current laundering guidelines for healthcare workers.
Hospital-acquired infections remain a significant threat to public health, often complicated by the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A growing body of research suggests that clothing can act as a vector for these dangerous microbes, prompting scientists to investigate whether standard home washing practices are sufficient to prevent their transmission. A 2025 study conducted by researchers at the UK’s De Montfort University examined the efficacy of home washing machines in decontaminating healthcare worker uniforms.
The Hidden Threat Within Washing Machines
The research team, led by Katie Laird, evaluated six different models of home washing machines, subjecting them to both rapid and standard wash cycles using contaminated fabric samples. The findings were alarming: half of the machines failed to adequately disinfect clothing during a rapid cycle, and a full one-third were insufficient even during a standard wash.
Further investigation revealed a disturbing reality – biofilms within the washing machines themselves harbor potential pathogens and, critically, antibiotic resistance genes. “Our research shows that domestic washing machines often fail to disinfect textiles, allowing antibiotic-resistant bacteria to survive,” a researcher stated. This suggests that the very appliances intended to clean uniforms may be fostering the growth and spread of dangerous bacteria.
Detergent Resistance: A Growing Concern
The study also uncovered evidence that bacteria can develop resistance not only to antibiotics but also to the detergents used in home washing machines. This detergent resistance further exacerbates the problem, increasing the likelihood of bacteria developing resistance to crucial antibiotics.
The presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes was confirmed through DNA sequencing of biofilm samples collected from 12 washing machines. This detailed analysis provided concrete evidence of the risks associated with domestic laundering of healthcare textiles.
Calls for Revised Laundering Protocols
The researchers argue that current laundering guidelines for healthcare workers need urgent revision. They propose two potential solutions: ensuring that home washing machines are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, or, more effectively, transitioning to onsite industrial machines within healthcare facilities to handle uniform laundering.
“If we’re serious about transmission of infectious disease via textiles and tackling antimicrobial resistance, we must rethink how we launder what our healthcare workers wear,” the researchers emphasized. This shift would prioritize patient safety and help control the spread of increasingly prevalent antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
The full study, ‘Domestic laundering of healthcare textiles: disinfection efficacy and risks of antibiotic resistance transmission’, is available open access in PLOS One at doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321467.
