Journal articles
Studies have proven that linens are capable of harboring infectious pathogens
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Contamination of Healthcare Workers’ Uniforms in Long-Term Care Facilities
Gaspard (2009)
Findings: HCW uniforms in LTCF found to be highly contaminated with MRSA. “This contamination can function as a reservoir, since pockets and their contents can contaminate carriers’ hands. Similarly, clothing can act as a vector …”
Citation: Journal of Hospital Infection 71: 170-175
Environmental Reservoirs of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in Isolation Rooms: Correlation with Patient Isolates and Implications for Hospital Hygiene
Sexton (2006)
Findings: Over half of the surface samples taken from the beds and the mattresses were positive for MRSA” in a study evaluating the contamination of isolation rooms.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Infection 62: 187-194
Environmental Reservoirs of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in Isolation Rooms: Correlation with Patient Isolates and Implications for Hospital Hygiene
Treakle (2009)
Findings: Laundering procedures for white coats varied widely. Of those tested, 23% were positive for S aureus (18% of those MRSA). “White coats may be an important vector for patient-to-patient transmission of Saureus.”
Citation: Am I Infect Control 37 (2): 101 -105
Survival of Enterococci and Staphylococci on Hospital Fabrics and Plastic
Neely (2000)
Findings: All MRSA/VRE isolates survived 1 day (some >90days) on scrub suits, lab coats, and privacy drapes. “Viability of enterococci on fabrics tended to be longer than their reported survival on other hospital surfaces.”
Citation: Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp 724-726
The Contribution of Beds to Healthcare-Associated Infection: The Importance of Adequate Decontamination
Creamer (2008)
Findings: Bed linens and pillow cases as source for MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas and other pathogens. “Often only the bedrail has been sampled during investigation of outbreaks, rather than more important potential reservoirs of infection, such as mattresses and pillows, which are in direct contact with patients”.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Infection 69, pp 8-23
Hospital Privacy Curtains are Frequently and Rapidly Contaminated with Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria
Ohl (2012)
Findings: Hospital privacy curtain are rapidly contaminated with a wide variety of pathogens. “92% (of curtains) placed during the study showed contamination within 1 week.”
Citation: American Journal of Infection Control xxx (2012) 1-3
Contamination of Hospital Curtains With Healthcare‐Associated Pathogens
Trillis (2008)
Findings: Privacy curtains are often contaminated with pathogens and “our data suggest that hospital curtains have the potential to contribute to contamination of HCWs’ hands, the major source of transmission of nosocomial pathogens.”
Citation: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Vol. 29, No. 11 pp. 1074-1076
Nursing and Physician Attire as Possible Source of Nosocomial Infections
Wiener-Well (2011)
Findings: Up to 60% of hospital staff uniforms colonized with potentially harmful bacteria
Citation: American Journal of Infection Control Vol. 39, No. 7, pp 555-559
Contamination of Hospital Linen by Bacillus cereus
Barrier (1994)
Findings: Hospital linen heavily contaminated by B. Cereus
Citation: Epidemiology. Infection. 113, 297-306
Environmental Contamination Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Possible Infection Control Implications
Boyce (1997)
Findings: Assessment of environmental contamination in endemic cases of MRSA showed that over 50% of samples taken from bed linens and patient gowns were contaminated. “Personnel may contaminate their gloves (or possibly their hands) by touching such surfaces suggests that contaminated environmental surfaces may serve as a reservoir of MRSA in hospitals”.
Citation: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Vol. 18, No. 9: 622-627
Recently laundered textiles have also been shown to carry microbial pathogens
Nursing and Physician Attire as Possible Source of Nosocomial Infections
Wiener-Well (2011)
Findings: Up to 60% of white coats and scrubs were colonized with potentially harmful bacteria. “the staff’s perception of their attire’s cleanliness did not correlate with isolation of pathogenic bacteria.”
Citation: American Journal of Infection Control Vol. 39, No. 7, pp 555-559
Microbiological Contamination of Bed Linen and Staff Uniforms in a Hospital
Pinon (2013)
Findings: 55% of clean linen was contaminated prior to patient contact. “Actively antimicrobial textiles would represent a valuable measure to prevent textiles from being a vehicle for transfer of microorganisms. “
Citation: Advances in Micro-Biology,2013, 3, 515-519
Microbial Contamination of Hospital Reusable Cleaning Towels
Sifuentes (2013)
Findings: Hospital laundering is inconsistent and may be insufficient to remove microbial contaminants. “ . . almost all (93%) sampled cleaning towels contained viable microorganisms even after laundering.” Organisms included P luteola and Klebsiella.
Citation: American Journal of Infection Control 41: 912-915
Bacterial Contamination of Uniforms
Perry (2001)
Findings: 39% of nurse’s freshly laundered uniforms were positive for pathogens including S. Aureus, C. difficile and VRE. “With the possibility of cross-contamination to patients from staff uniforms, it is essential for clothing worn by healthcare workers to be adequately decontaminated”.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Infection 48: 238-241
Studies have clarified the potential for textiles to contribute to the spread of pathogens and infection
Bacillus Cereus Bacteremia Outbreak Due to Contaminated Hospital Linens
Sasahara (2010)
Findings: B. Cereus led to an outbreak of intravenous catheter infections. “ . . . our findings demonstrated that B. cereus contamination of hospital linens can cause nosocomial bacteremia.”
Citation: Eur J Clin Microbial Infect Dis (2011) 30: 219–226
Mucormycosis Outbreak Associated with Hospital Linens
Duffy (2014)
Findings: Investigation of a fatal outbreak of mucormycosis. The results confirmed that “ . . . linens were the vehicle transmitting Rhizopus”.
Citation: Pediatr Infect Dis J 33: 472–476
Significance of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Survey in a University Teaching Hospital
Osawa (2003)
Findings: Probability of MRSA outbreak linked to staff white coats. ”This suggested a high probability of cross-infection between the patients and the hospital staff in the ward. . . doctors and nurses should be cautious that their coats might be contaminated with the prevailing strains of MRSA.”
Citation: J. Infect Chemother 9: 172-177
Significance of Airborne Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Unit
Shiomori (2001)
Findings: Changing bed sheets increases the level of airborne contaminants including MRSA. “During this test period, there were approximately 50 times the number of CFU as during the resting period.”
Citation: Arch Otolavyngol Head Neck Sorg. 127: 644-648
Evaluation of Bed making-related Airborne and Surface Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Contamination
Shiomoni (2002)
Findings: Respirable-sized aerosols of MRSA can be spread during bed making which “ . . . may play a role in MRSA colonization in the nasal cavity, or sequentially, in respiratory MRSA infections.”
Citation: J Hosp Infect 50: 30 -35
Lesser-known or Hidden Reservoirs of Infection and Implications for Adequate Prevention Strategies: Where to Look and What to Look For
Bloomfield (2015)
Findings: Soft surfaces such as privacy curtains and pillows are among the “lesser known and underestimated reservoirs for microorganisms which are the triggering sources and vehicles for outbreaks or sporadic cases of infection.”
Citation: GMS Hygiene and Control, 10: Doc 4
From Ward to Washer: The Survival of Clostridium difficile spores on hospital bed sheets through a commercial UK NHS healthcare laundry process
Tarrant (2018)
Findings: Clostridium difficile spores remain on bed sheets even after they are processed through a commercial washer extractor. This may lead to outbreaks of C. diff infection in the hospital
Citation: Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (2018), 0, 1–6
Tracking and controlling soft surface contamination in health care settings
Sexton (2018)
Findings: Soft surfaces are involved in the spread of microbes throughout healthcare facilities. Routine application of an EPA registered sanitizer for soft surfaces can help to reduce the microbial load and minimize exposure risks
Citation: American Journal of Infection Control 46: 39-43
Do donated linens put patients at risk for fungal infections during hospitalization? A pediatric case investigation and subsequently implemented process changes
Westerling (2018)
Findings: A review of the literature revealed that hospital linen can be a source of pathogenic contamination and donated linens must be managed with care.
Citation: American Journal of Infection Control 46: 118 – 119
Assessment of Environmental Contamination with Pathogenic Bacteria at a Hospital Laundry Facility
Michael (2017)
Findings: Workers who handle soiled linen may have a higher risk of exposure to C. difficile, MRSA, and VRE than those who handle clean linens.
Citation: Annals of Work Exposures and health 61: 1087-96
A Randomized Trial to Determine Whether Wearing Short-Sleeved White
Coats Reduces the Risk for Pathogen Transmission
John (2017)
Findings: During simulations of patient care, the sleeve cuff of long-sleeved white coats frequently became contaminated with a viral DNA marker that could be transferred. These results provide support for the recommendation that healthcare personnel wear short sleeves to reduce the risk for pathogen transmission.
Citation: Open Forum Infect Dis 4: S34
Microbiological Contamination of Bed Linen and Staff Uniforms in a Hospital
Pinon (2013)
Findings: 55% of clean linen was contaminated prior to patient contact. “Actively antimicrobial textiles would represent a valuable measure to prevent textiles from being a vehicle for transfer of microorganisms. “
Citation: Advances in Micro-Biology,2013, 3, 515-519