The effect of low-temperature laundering and detergents on the survival of<i>Escherichia coli</i>and<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>on textiles used in healthcare uniforms

Riley, Kate; Williams, John T.; Owen, Lucy; Shen, Jinsong; Davies, Angela M.; Laird, Katie

doi:10.1111/jam.13485

Cited by 34 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…; Riley et al . ). Likewise, the formation of biofilms may be supported if machines are used only rarely or mainly at low temperatures (Bloomfield et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Prevalence ofβ‐lactamase genes in domestic washing machines and dishwashers and the impact of laundering processes on antibiotic‐resistant bacteria

Rehberg

Frontzek²,

Melhus

et al. 2017

J Appl Microbiol

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“…; Riley et al . ). Likewise, the formation of biofilms may be supported if machines are used only rarely or mainly at low temperatures (Bloomfield et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Prevalence ofβ‐lactamase genes in domestic washing machines and dishwashers and the impact of laundering processes on antibiotic‐resistant bacteria

Rehberg

Frontzek²,

Melhus

et al. 2017

J Appl Microbiol

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“…However, the addition of silver additive to the rinse phase added value over that of biological detergent by significantly (P ≤ 0Á05) increasing the removal of S. aureus clinical isolate and E. coli type and clinical isolates (Table 5). Riley et al (2017) also reported that S. aureus was more susceptible to biological detergent than E. coli in solution at 40°C for 15 min; S. aureus was reduced by 3Á75 log 10 CFU while E. coli was not significantly reduced (7Á68 log 10 CFU survival). In this study, both S. aureus and E. coli were reduced to a greater extent in a 40°C wash with biological detergent than reported by Riley et al (2017), where approximately three log 10 CFU E. coli and S. aureus were removed and deposited onto sterile polycotton under clean conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Riley et al (2017) also reported that S. aureus was more susceptible to biological detergent than E. coli in solution at 40°C for 15 min; S. aureus was reduced by 3Á75 log 10 CFU while E. coli was not significantly reduced (7Á68 log 10 CFU survival). In this study, both S. aureus and E. coli were reduced to a greater extent in a 40°C wash with biological detergent than reported by Riley et al (2017), where approximately three log 10 CFU E. coli and S. aureus were removed and deposited onto sterile polycotton under clean conditions. The current study highlights the importance of cleaning in the removal of micro-organisms from textiles and indicates that biological detergent is useful for the decontamination of laundry.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Previous research has reported that potentially pathogenic micro-organisms may survive domestic laundering of healthcare worker uniforms, which could lead to potential cross contamination of other textiles in the home and/or microbial transmission into clinical settings (Fijan and Turk 2012). For example, three to four log 10 CFU Escherichia coli and S. aureus survived a 40°C wash cycle with biological detergents, that is, detergents that contain enzymes and a further three log 10 CFU cross contaminated previously sterile fabric in the wash (Riley et al 2017). In addition, domestically laundered scrubs may harbour significantly (P ≤ 0Á05) higher bacteria loads (143 CFU per cm 2 ) than industrially laundered scrubs (143 vs four CFU per cm 2 respectively) (Nordstrom et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of a silver-based dual-function antimicrobial laundry additive and textile coating for the decontamination of healthcare laundry

Owen

Laird

2021

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Aims: To repurpose a silver-based antimicrobial textile coating product (Micro-Fresh 1911) as a dual-function antimicrobial laundry additive and textile coating. Methods and Results: Survival of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus type and clinical isolates in a domestic 40°C wash was assessed with and without soiling and biological detergent. Washing with 2% w/v silver additive (wash phase) reduced E. coli and S. aureus by 7Á14-8Á08 log 10 and no crosscontamination was observed. Under dirty conditions, 0Á5% silver additive in the rinse phase of a wash with biological detergent reduced E. coli and S. aureus by 7Á98-8Á40 log 10 (0Á00-1Á42 log 10 cross contamination). BS EN ISO 20645:2004 and BS EN ISO 20743:2013 methods were used to assess the antimicrobial activity of polycotton washed with 2% w/v silver additive against S. aureus and E. coli. The treated polycotton was antimicrobial against E. coli and S. aureus type and clinical isolates and remains active after at least one further wash cycle at 40 or 73°C. Conclusions: The silver additive exhibits antimicrobial activity in a 40°C domestic wash, preventing cross contamination onto clean textiles and depositing an antimicrobial coating onto polycotton. Significance and Impact of the Study: The survival of microorganisms on healthcare uniforms during domestic laundering presents a potential risk of contaminating the home, cross-contamination of other clothing within the wash and transmitting potential pathogens back into healthcare settings via contaminated uniforms. Silver may be useful as an antimicrobial laundry additive to decontaminate healthcare laundry washed at low temperatures in domestic and industrial settings, to therefore reduce the potential risk of transmitting microorganisms within the domestic and clinical environments.

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“…Faecal coliforms also survive for 120 days on cotton and blended textile at 25 • C (>1.1 ×10 4 CFU/ml), while few coliforms (1.1 ×10 2 CFU/ml) survive on silk (Colclasure et al, 2015). The greater survival of microorganisms on cotton compared to polyester and silk can be partly attributed to the moisture content of the different fibres (Colclasure et al, 2015;Riley et al, 2017). Cotton absorbs moisture to a greater extent than synthetic materials such as polyester, which supports the enhanced survival of microorganisms on this fibre type (Riley et al, 2017).…”

Section: Contamination Of Healthcare Textilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of textiles as fomites in the healthcare environment: a review of the infection control risk

Owen

Laird

2020

PeerJ

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Background Infectious diseases are a significant threat in both healthcare and community settings. Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in particular are a leading cause of complications during hospitalisation. Contamination of the healthcare environment is recognised as a source of infectious disease yet the significance of porous surfaces including healthcare textiles as fomites is not well understood. It is currently assumed there is little infection risk from textiles due to a lack of direct epidemiological evidence. Decontamination of healthcare textiles is achieved with heat and/or detergents by commercial or in-house laundering with the exception of healthcare worker uniforms which are laundered domestically in some countries. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for rigorous infection control including effective decontamination of potential fomites in the healthcare environment. This article aims to review the evidence for the role of textiles in the transmission of infection, outline current procedures for laundering healthcare textiles and review studies evaluating the decontamination efficacy of domestic and industrial laundering. Methodology Pubmed, Google Scholar and Web of Science were searched for publications pertaining to the survival and transmission of microorganisms on textiles with a particular focus on the healthcare environment. Results A number of studies indicate that microorganisms survive on textiles for extended periods of time and can transfer on to skin and other surfaces suggesting it is biologically plausible that HCAIs and other infectious diseases can be transmitted directly through contact with contaminated textiles. Accordingly, there are a number of case studies that link small outbreaks with inadequate laundering or infection control processes surrounding healthcare laundry. Studies have also demonstrated the survival of potential pathogens during laundering of healthcare textiles, which may increase the risk of infection supporting the data published on specific outbreak case studies. Conclusions There are no large-scale epidemiological studies demonstrating a direct link between HCAIs and contaminated textiles yet evidence of outbreaks from published case studies should not be disregarded. Adequate microbial decontamination of linen and infection control procedures during laundering are required to minimise the risk of infection from healthcare textiles. Domestic laundering of healthcare worker uniforms is a particular concern due to the lack of control and monitoring of decontamination, offering a route for potential pathogens to enter the clinical environment. Industrial laundering of healthcare worker uniforms provides greater assurances of adequate decontamination compared to domestic laundering, due to the ability to monitor laundering parameters; this is of particular importance during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimise any risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

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The effect of low-temperature laundering and detergents on the survival ofEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureuson textiles used in healthcare uniforms

Cited by 34 publications

References 14 publications

Prevalence ofβ‐lactamase genes in domestic washing machines and dishwashers and the impact of laundering processes on antibiotic‐resistant bacteria

Prevalence ofβ‐lactamase genes in domestic washing machines and dishwashers and the impact of laundering processes on antibiotic‐resistant bacteria

Development of a silver-based dual-function antimicrobial laundry additive and textile coating for the decontamination of healthcare laundry

The role of textiles as fomites in the healthcare environment: a review of the infection control risk

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