Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
Published on: June 21, 2022
Infection risk by dermatophytes during storage and after domestic laundry and their temperature-dependent
Timo R Hammer1, Helmut Mucha, Dirk Hoefer
1Hohenstein Institutes, Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology, Schlosssteige 1, 74357, Boennigheim, Germany. t.hammer@hohenstein.de
Abstract:
In the developed countries infections of the feet (tinea pedis, athlete's foot) and nails (onychomycosis) with the anthropophile fungus Trichophyton rubrum are most common. We examined the propagation of dermatophytes before and during domestic laundering. About 10% of the infectious material was transferred from contaminated textiles to sterile textiles during storage in a clothes basket simulation indicating a high infection risk during storage. This was evaluated with two quantification techniques: cultivation with subsequent colony counting and tracing of radioactively labelled propagating units. Both approaches reliably revealed similar results with the latter method reducing experimental time to few minutes compared to 2 weeks with the traditional method. The tracer technique allowed favourably to directly reflect the textile-bound infectious material at the moment of skin contact. To address the infection risk during domestic laundry, bioindicators with T. rubrum or the yeast Candida albicans were introduced into common domestic washing procedures with different temperature courses. While C. albicans did not survive any of the tests, T. rubrum could be recovered after washing at 30°C, indicating the risk potential of dermatophyte infections at home. Up to 16% of the initial fungus load was detected in the rinsing water. Washing at 60°C however, eliminated both pathogens, T. rubrum and C. albicans.
Insights
Textile contamination with Trichophyton rubrum poses a significant infection risk, with 10% transferring to clean items. Washing at 60°C effectively eliminates dermatophytes and yeasts, unlike lower temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Textile Science
Background:
- Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) and nail fungus (onychomycosis) caused by Trichophyton rubrum are prevalent in developed countries.
- Dermatophyte contamination of textiles presents a potential public health concern.
- Understanding pathogen transmission during textile handling and laundering is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the propagation of dermatophytes from contaminated textiles.
- To assess the risk of fungal infection transmission during textile storage and domestic laundering.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different washing temperatures in eliminating dermatophytes and yeasts.
Main Methods:
- Simulated clothes basket storage to quantify textile-to-textile transfer of infectious material.
- Quantification techniques including cultivation with colony counting and radioactive tracer methods.
- Introduction of bioindicators (Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans) into domestic washing machines at various temperatures.
Main Results:
- Approximately 10% of infectious material transferred from contaminated to sterile textiles during simulated storage.
- The radioactive tracer method provided rapid and reliable quantification of textile-bound fungi.
- Trichophyton rubrum survived washing at 30°C, with up to 16% of the initial load detected in rinse water.
- Candida albicans did not survive any washing conditions.
- Washing at 60°C effectively eliminated both T. rubrum and C. albicans.
Conclusions:
- Textile storage poses a significant risk for dermatophyte propagation and potential infection.
- Domestic laundering at 30°C is insufficient to eliminate Trichophyton rubrum, posing an ongoing infection risk.
- Washing textiles at 60°C is essential for effective disinfection and prevention of fungal infections like athlete's foot and onychomycosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
01:29Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
01:27The Skin Microbiota
01:27Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature
01:19Key Techniques in Microbiology
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...