Domestic washing machines They could promote the spread of resistant pathogens Because, according to a study, they do not fully eliminate them from the clothes of the laundry. The analysis was carried out by Katie Laird, professor of microbiology and head of the Infectious Disease research group of the University of Montfort (United Kingdom), which has been established in the question of whether these daily useful devices can influence the spread of these antibiotic resistant pathogens.
Exactly, some recent studies and studies have shown that these pathogens (responsible for some Intra Hospital Infections) can be transferred by the clothing of health centers and hospitals and hospitals and hospitals Do not eliminate, not even after passing the washing machine.
In this study, six domestic washing models and their decontamination capacity were evaluated in various types of wax programs with substances with pathogens. One of the results is that these microorganisms can develop Resistance to household detergent in the case of these items of clothing used by medical staff.
Pathogens who don’t even go into the washing machines
Katie Laird, professor of microbiology and head of the Infectious Diseases research group of the University of Montfort (United Kingdom), is the one who, together with scientists Antibiotic -Resistant pathogens. In the study published in Plos One Magazine Six models of domestic washing machines and their decontamination capacity were evaluated in various types of fabric washing programs with pathogens.
The result of applying hot water next to a quick cycle was that half of the machines did not disinfected clothes. While applying a standard cycle, A third of the garments were not cleaned enough.
The team also took biofilms from the interior of 12 washing machines. The sequencing of the DNA revealed the presence of potential pathogenic bacteria and Antibiotic resistance. The observations showed that these microorganisms can develop resistance to domestic detergent, which in turn increased their resistance to certain of these medicines.
“If detergents at lower levels are used for those needed to kill bacteria (for example an upper dose), these microorganisms are exposed to a level of detergent at which they can become resistant,” he explains to Sinc Laird. “The mechanisms that develop bacteria to resist detergent can also provide cross resistance to antibiotics”the researcher says.
Insufficient washing machines: reconsideration of washing
Together the findings suggest that many domestic washing machines They cannot be enough to disinfect the uniforms of health personnel. For this reason they can contribute to the spread of infections obtained in the hospital and resistance to antibiotics.
As a solution, the researchers propose that the washruptists are assessed for health workers to ensure that domestic washing machines effectively clean. In parallel, they also propose that medical care centers have done that Industrial machines in its facilities for washing uniforms. Thus the safety of the patient can be improved and the distribution of pathogens checked.
According to the most important author of the research, this type of washing equipment is checked to ensure that the disinfection levels are achieved. “All bedding and medical uniforms are scented industrial in the UK; only nursing uniforms are played domestic,” says the same researcher.
The authors add: «Our research shows that conventional washing machines often do not disinfect textiles, allowing antibiotic -resistant bacteria to survive“. If we take the transfer of infectious diseases through textile, we have to reconsider how we wash the clothing of our health workers,” he concludes.