Hospital linen is clearly recognized as a potential reservoir for
microorganisms and could be a vector of disease transmission. The aim of this
study was to isolate, count and identify fungi and bacteria from different
kinds of clean and dirty linen in a hospital. Microbiological samples have been
collected on clean bed linen (n=200), dirty bed linen (n=192) and
staff uniforms (n=192) by using contact plates. 55% of samples from clean bed linen were
contaminated before contact with the patient, with a mean count of 3 cfu/25 cm2 (range: 1-117 cfu) when contaminated. Virtually all samples from dirty bed
linen carried microorganisms, with a mean count of 23 cfu/25 cm2 (range 1-191 cfu). In addition, staff hospital uniforms showed the highest
contamination rates in the study, with an average of 45 cfu/25 cm2 (range: 1-218 cfu). Microbial species were mostly bacteria commonly found
in the environment or on human skin, such as
staphylococci or micrococci. Nevertheless, 57% of the identified species may be
opportunistic pathogens for humans, representing a risk for people with
a deficient or weakened immune system, especially in cases of superinfection.
Since contamination of linen seems to occur after washing, actively
antimicrobial textiles would represent a valuable measure to prevent textiles
from being a vehicle for transfer of microorganisms.
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