Antibiotic-resistant pathogens can be spread via washing machines.
This has been proven by hygienists at the University of Bonn for a children’s hospital in which a Klebsiella oxytoca type was repeatedly transmitted to newborns. Fortunately, no dangerous infection occurred.
The source was a conventional washing machine used to launder the clothes of the newborns. This case draws attention, especially as antibiotic-resistant bacteria could also be transmitted via the washing machine in households with people who need nursing care. A further study will examine this distribution channel in more detail. The results were published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
The Klebsiella oxytoca bacterium was increasingly detected during routine hygiene screenings in the neonatal ward of a children’s hospital in Germany. The bacterium can lead to gastrointestinal and respiratory infections and in the worst case result in fatal sepsis.
In this particular case, common antibiotics could only be used against this pathogen to a limited extent or not at all. After newborns were repeatedly colonised with the pathogen and intensive hygiene intervention measures were unsuccessful, the hospital called in the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health (IHPH) of the University Hospital Bonn.
In order to trace the source and possible distribution pathways, several environmental samples in patient and staff areas and suspected risk locations were compared with the samples of the newborns.
Dr Ricarda Schmithausen, Head of the One Health Department at IHPH, said: “This type of Klebsiella oxytoca was so unique that it was in this form not yet included in the database of the National Reference Center for gram-negative hospital pathogens.”
This particularity was advantageous because it allowed the distribution pathway to be clearly traced. Neither the parents nor the nursing staff had transmitted the bacteria.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Dr Martin Exner, Director of the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at the University Hospital Bonn said: “The Klebsiella oxytoca type was clearly identified in the detergent drawer and on the door seal of a washing machine in the basement, which was used to launder the hand-knitted socks and beanies of the babies on the ward.” The bacteria were passed on to the newborns via the clothing.
After the washing machine was removed, no further colonisation of the premature babies was detected.
Schmithausen said: “This clearly demonstrates that we found the Klebsiella source. This is a special case.”
Hospitals normally use special washing machines and laundry processes that wash at high temperatures and with disinfectants, or designated laundries handle the washing externally. On the neonatal ward, however, the case that occurred some time ago involved a standard washing machine.
Schmithausen continued: “We decided to investigate this case in order to draw attention to possible problems with resistant bacteria that are now advancing into the domestic environment.”
Studies have already shown that antibiotic-resistant bacteria can take hold in washing machines. Professor Exner said: “However, we have proven for the first time that a washing machine can also spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans.”
This result also has consequences for the domestic environment. For environmental reasons, the trend in conventional household machines is towards lower temperatures of well below 60°C (140°F). According to the researchers, this is, in principle, a very positive development because it saves energy and protects the climate.
However, if elderly people requiring nursing care with open wounds or bladder catheters or younger people with suppurating injuries or infections lived in the household, laundry should be washed at higher temperatures, such as 60°C (140°F), to avoid the transmission of dangerous pathogens. This is a growing challenge for hygienists, as the number of people receiving nursing care from family members is constantly increasing.
