Surreal illustration of a laundry facility highlighting the contrast between contaminated and clean areas, symbolizing the risk to laundry workers.

Is Your Laundry Making You Sick? The Hidden Dangers in Hospital Linens

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Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 3 min read.

"Uncover the alarming truth about environmental contamination in healthcare laundry facilities and how it impacts worker health."


For decades, hospitals have focused on meticulously cleaning patient rooms to prevent the spread of infections. Yet, a less visible but equally critical area has often been overlooked: the laundry facilities that process soiled clinical linens. These linens, teeming with potentially dangerous pathogens, could pose a significant health risk to the dedicated workers who handle them.

Clostridium difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are not just scary names; they are real threats that can cause serious nosocomial infections. These pathogens have a knack for survival, lingering on surfaces and in dust for extended periods, defying standard cleaning protocols.

Imagine a scenario where laundry workers, day in and day out, are unknowingly exposed to these resilient microbes. They unload trucks filled with soiled linens, sort through contaminated materials, and operate machinery that churns and processes items teeming with bacteria. This isn't just about cleanliness; it's about occupational health and the potential for long-term consequences.

The Sobering Reality: Pathogens in the Laundry

Surreal illustration of a laundry facility highlighting the contrast between contaminated and clean areas, symbolizing the risk to laundry workers.

A recent study conducted at a hospital laundry facility in Seattle, Washington, sheds light on this often-ignored issue. Researchers meticulously assessed surface contamination, collecting 240 swab samples over several months. The results were eye-opening: all three pathogens—C. difficile, MRSA, and VRE—were present in both the 'dirty' (pre-wash) and 'clean' (post-wash) areas of the facility.

The study didn't stop there. It also involved the voluntary participation of 23 employees, including nasal swabs to detect MRSA, work observations, and detailed questionnaires. The findings underscored a clear disparity: the 'dirty' areas had significantly higher odds of overall contamination compared to the 'clean' areas. In fact, the odds ratio (OR) was a staggering 18.0, with a 95% confidence interval of 8.9-36.5 (P < 0.001).

Here's a breakdown of the contamination odds for each pathogen:
  • C. difficile: OR = 15.5
  • MRSA: OR = 14.8
  • VRE: OR = 12.6
Each with P < 0.001, highlighting the substantial risk.
But the study went even deeper, pinpointing the riskiest areas within the facility. The primary and secondary sorting zones, where employees manually sorted soiled linens, had the highest odds of surface contamination, with an OR of 63.0 (P < 0.001). This underscores the critical need for targeted interventions in these high-exposure zones.

Taking Action: Protecting Laundry Workers

This study serves as a wake-up call, emphasizing that laundry facilities processing soiled clinical linens can indeed become reservoirs of contamination. Workers handling these linens face a heightened risk of exposure to dangerous pathogens. Thankfully, awareness is the first step, and this research has already prompted changes. Improved protocols for preventing and reducing environmental contamination have been implemented, offering a safer working environment for these essential personnel.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1093/annweh/wxx082, Alternate LINK

Title: Assessment Of Environmental Contamination With Pathogenic Bacteria At A Hospital Laundry Facility

Subject: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Journal: Annals of Work Exposures and Health

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: Karen E Michael, David No, William E Daniell, Noah S Seixas, Marilyn C Roberts

Published: 2017-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What specific pathogens were found in the hospital laundry facility during the study, and where were they located?

The study revealed that pathogens like Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were present in both the 'dirty' (pre-wash) and 'clean' (post-wash) areas of the facility. This indicates that even after washing, a risk of contamination persists.

2

According to the research, which areas within the laundry facility posed the highest risk of surface contamination, and why?

The study found that the primary and secondary sorting zones, where employees manually sorted soiled linens, had the highest odds of surface contamination, with an Odds Ratio of 63.0 (P < 0.001). This indicates that manually sorting soiled linens is a particularly high-risk activity.

3

What are nosocomial infections, and how do pathogens like Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) contribute to this issue within the context of hospital laundry?

Nosocomial infections are infections acquired in a hospital or other healthcare facility. Pathogens such as Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) can cause these infections. Because these pathogens survive on surfaces and in dust, laundry facilities are a potential source of contamination and spread, impacting both worker and patient health.

4

What methods did the Seattle study use to determine the level of contamination and assess the health risks to laundry workers?

The study used surface swab samples and nasal swabs from employees to detect the presence of pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Work observations and detailed questionnaires were also conducted. This comprehensive approach allowed researchers to assess the level of contamination and understand the risks faced by laundry workers.

5

What actions can be taken to improve the safety and well-being of laundry workers who are exposed to pathogens like Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)?

Improved protocols for preventing and reducing environmental contamination have been implemented. However, other measures could also include improved ventilation systems, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and masks, and more effective disinfectants. Additionally, further research is needed to identify optimal cleaning methods and monitor the long-term impact of these interventions on worker health and safety when dealing with pathogens like Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

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