Institutional Laundering Practices, Infection Prevention Policy Implementation, and Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Uniforms in Hospital Settings

Healthcare uniforms are important components of the clinical environment because they are frequently exposed to patients, healthcare workers’ hands, equipment, and contaminated surfaces. When laundering systems and infection prevention and control practices are inadequate, uniforms may serve as potential reservoirs for bacterial contamination. This study examined institutional laundering practices, implementation of infection prevention policies, and bacterial contamination of healthcare uniforms in hospital settings. An analytical cross-sectional design was adopted. Data were collected from 200 healthcare workers across tertiary, regional, and district hospitals using structured questionnaires, observational assessment, and microbiological evaluation of healthcare uniforms or textiles. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise respondents’ socio-demographic and professional characteristics, while chi-square tests and analysis of variance were used to examine associations between laundering practices, IPC implementation, workplace hygiene indicators, laundry facility availability, and contamination outcomes. The findings showed that healthcare textiles washed below 60 °C without disinfectant recorded higher bacterial contamination than those washed at 60 °C or above with disinfectant, χ²(1) = 14.52, p < .001. Contamination also increased as workplace hygiene standards declined across ward cleanliness, handwashing facility adequacy, and laundry facility availability. IPC policy implementation was significantly associated with uniform contamination, χ²(2) = 12.18, p = .002, with higher contamination reported where policy enforcement was weak. Healthcare workers with access to on-site mechanised laundry recorded better uniform hygiene compliance than those using shared institutional laundry or home-based washing, F(2, 97) = 10.48, p < .001. The study concludes that bacterial contamination of healthcare uniforms is shaped by laundering practices, IPC enforcement, workplace hygiene conditions, and laundry infrastructure. Strengthening institutional laundry systems and IPC monitoring may improve the safety of healthcare textiles.