A new study suggests that clothing and linens are an under recognised vector for transmission of MRSA from a person who is infected or is an MRSA carrier
The study examined a hospital laundry facility for the presence of MRSA on environmental surfaces and among personnel. MRSA was identified in 33/120 (28%) samples from the dirty and 3/120 (3%) samples from the clean environmental areas of the laundry facility. Five different employees were MRSA positive, 4/8 (50%) from the dirty: and 1/15 (6_7%) from the clean, but there was a 10-fold higher MRSA carriage 6/22 (27%) dirty vs 1/38 (2_6%) clean when all 50 human samples were combined.
The study shoiws the importance of ensuring the hygiene efficacy of machine laundry cycles for all items which come into close contact with the human skin surface – even when launering at low temperatures
The study can be found at: Michael, K. E., No, D., & Roberts, M. C. (2016). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from surfaces and personnel at a hospital laundry facility. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 121(3), 846–854. http://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13202
