How Clean Are Your Linens?

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening illness in immunocompromised hosts. Although often difficult to distinguish from community-acquired infection, there have been several recent reports of healthcare-associated outbreaks, including three related to contaminated healthcare linens (HCLs) and laundry carts. Currently, microbiological testing of HCLs is not required.

This study sought to determine the extent to which freshly laundered HCLs are contaminated with Mucorales. To achieve this, the authors intercepted and performed contact cultures on HCLs as they were being delivered to 15 transplant and cancer centers in the United States. At the time of delivery, HCLs were visibly soiled at five (33%) hospitals, and laundry carts were visibly contam…