A recent UK study (1) found that 44% of nursing staff washed their uniforms below the recommended temperature of 60˚C, according to an article on the Nursing in Practice website.
Compelling scientific evidence says uniforms or workwear can contribute to hospital acquired infections, describing an outbreak of Gordonia bronchialis directly linked to a nurse anaesthetist’s scrub attire which “likely became contaminated by her home washing machine. The outbreak ended after disposal of the implicated washing machine.”
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend washing contaminated laundry at water temperatures of at least 70˚c (6), and the Royal College of Nursing (7) stipulates that “uniform fabrics must be capable of withstanding water temperatures of at least 60˚c”.
For primary healthcare nurses who wash their uniforms at home, studies recommend washing uniforms separately after every shift and within 24 hours of the shift starting with detergent at a minimum temperature of 60˚c.
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