While no large-scale epidemiological studies demonstrate a direct link between healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and contaminated textiles, evidence of outbreaks from published case studies should not be disregarded. This is more of a warning for employees who wash their own uniforms than professional launderers who are equipped to greatly minimize the risk, contends a recent United Kingdom (U.K.) report on prior studies.

The new report, “Role of textiles as fomites in the healthcare environment: a review of the infection control risk,” was authored by Lucy Owen and Katie Laird of the Infectious Disease Research Group, Leicester School of Pharmacy, De ...