Clinical Scorecard: Effectiveness of Washing Techniques in Eradicating Mpox Virus from Textiles
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Mpox virus (MPXV) contamination on fabrics
Key Mechanisms
Inactivation of MPXV on textiles via manual washing using detergents, disinfectants, and high temperature water
Target Population
Individuals exposed to MPXV-contaminated fabrics, including patients, household contacts, and healthcare workers
Care Setting
Household and healthcare settings
Key Highlights
MPXV can persist on fabrics with infectious virus detected days to weeks after contamination.
Manual washing with sodium hypochlorite, liquid sanitizers, powdered detergents, or water at 70°C achieves >99.9% inactivation of MPXV on cotton and polyester.
Fomite transmission, including via contaminated textiles, is a documented but less common route of MPXV spread.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Consider environmental sampling of fabrics in settings with mpox cases to assess contamination.
Management
Wash contaminated clothes using regular laundry detergent with water at 60°C–90°C.
Alternatively, soak clothes in chlorine-based disinfectants to reduce viral load.
Ensure thorough cleaning and disinfection of fabrics to prevent indirect MPXV transmission.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor for environmental contamination in households and healthcare settings with mpox patients.
Assess laundering efficacy by evaluating viral inactivation on textiles.
Risks
Handling contaminated fabrics (e.g., bedding, clothing) poses a risk for MPXV transmission.
Inadequate laundering or disinfection may allow persistence of infectious virus on textiles.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients with mpox and their close contacts exposed to contaminated fabrics
Effective laundering reduces viral load on textiles, lowering risk of indirect transmission; use of chlorine disinfectants may be beneficial when thermal disinfection is suboptimal.
Clinical Best Practices
Use laundry detergents combined with water heated to at least 60°C to inactivate MPXV on fabrics.
Incorporate chlorine-based disinfectants for soaking when high-temperature washing is not feasible.
Avoid sharing bedding, clothing, or crockery with infected individuals to reduce transmission risk.
Implement thorough cleaning protocols in healthcare and household environments with mpox cases.
