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Why your laundry could be making you sick and what to do about it

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Why your laundry could be making you sick and what to do about it

Tossing in a load of wash at home sounds ordinary and harmless.   

But healthcare professionals who wash their work uniforms at home may be unknowingly spreading superbugs, according to a new study.

Professor Katie Laird of De Montfort University Leicester, a public university in England, tested home washing machines in a study and found the machines failed to remove potentially harmful material, even after running a hot water setting at the equivalent of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

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“Our research highlights that domestic laundering of healthcare textiles may not consistently eliminate harmful bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” Laird told Fox News Digital.

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The team tested six different models of washing machines to see how well they cleaned fabric contaminated with bacteria that can cause a variety of health conditions.

Healthcare professionals who wash their work uniforms at home may be unknowingly spreading superbugs, according to a new study. (iStock)

Half of the machines did not disinfect the clothing during a rapid cycle — while a third of them failed to clean sufficiently during the standard cycle.   

Laird, a professor of microbiology in the School of Pharmacy and head of the university’s Infectious Disease Research Group, said the finding “highlights potential risks associated with laundering healthcare uniforms at home, particularly concerning the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within community and hospital settings.”

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In addition, this could mean home washing machines are a hub for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 

Domestic detergents could even potentially create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, according to Laird.

Even if healthcare workers followed all washing guidelines, half the machines in the study didn’t reach the correct temperature, the study found.

Healthcare professionals and their institutions should consider re-evaluating policies that allow workers to wash their work clothing at home, said a professor of microbiology who oversaw a new study. (iStock)

“What this means is that even if healthcare workers are following all the guidelines to domestically wash their uniforms, they will still not be reaching the disinfection level required to remove all pathogenic bacteria,” the professor said.

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Potential limitations and fixes

The study was conducted with non-healthcare personnel, so the bacteria on that clothing may differ from the clothing of those who work in healthcare settings.

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Potentially, however, the latter would see higher levels of “pathogenic and antibiotic resistant strains in healthcare workers’ domestic washing machines,” the professor said. 

Laird recommended that healthcare professionals and their institutions re-evaluate policies that allow workers to wash their work clothing at home.

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“Implementing standardized in-house laundering within healthcare facilities or using external industrial laundries will enhance infection control measures,” she said. 

Half of the machines did not disinfect the clothing during a rapid cycle, while one third failed to clean sufficiently during the standard cycle. (iStock)

Due to at-home machines not functioning as they should, per the study, the research team recommended using a disinfectant for those washing machines at least once a month. 

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They also recommended doing an empty wash in the machine to disinfect it at a temperature of approximately 194 degrees Fahrenheit.

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“For individuals laundering at home, it’s crucial to adhere strictly to guidelines, such as using appropriate temperatures and detergents, to minimize risks,” Laird told Fox News Digital.

The team also said that effective laundering practices are a critical component, but that these should be part of a multifaceted approach.

They should “includ[e] prudent antibiotic use, robust infection control measures, and public education on hygiene practices and antimicrobial resistance,” she said. 

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Foods and Drinks That Help With Bloating: Flatten Your Belly in Days

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Foods and Drinks That Help With Bloating: Flatten Your Belly in Days


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What to know about Cushing’s syndrome, which led to Amy Schumer’s dramatic weight loss

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What to know about Cushing’s syndrome, which led to Amy Schumer’s dramatic weight loss

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Comedian Amy Schumer, 44, has recently come clean about her struggle with Cushing’s syndrome, leading to a dramatic weight loss.

Schumer’s transformation has sparked conversation online, to which she responded in a now-deleted Instagram post that shut down speculation about cosmetic enhancements.

“I didn’t lose 30lbs — I lost 50,” she emphasized on social media, adding that she does not get Botox or filler.

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Schumer doubled down that her weight loss was not about her appearance, but about staying alive.

“Not to look hot, which does feel fun and temporary,” she said. “I did it to survive. I had a disease that makes your face extremely puffy that can kill you, but the internet caught it and that disease has cleared.”

Amy Schumer attends Variety’s 2024 Power of Women: New York event on May 2, 2024, in New York City on the left. On the right, Schumer later poses for a photo posted to Instagram after her weight loss. (Marleen Moise/WireImage; Amy Schumer/Instagram)

“Sorry for whatever feeling it’s giving you that I lost that weight,” she added. “I’ve had plastic surgery over the years and I use [Mounjaro]. Sorry to anyone they let down. I’m pain free. I can [play] tag with my son.”

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The actress also addressed her shifting hormones, saying that she’s “happy to share more if anyone has any questions about how I’m looking or feeling or where I am in my perimenopause process.”

“I didn’t lose 30lbs — I lost 50,” Schumer emphasized on social media, adding that she does not get Botox or filler. (Amy Schumer/Instagram)

What is Cushing’s syndrome?

Schumer previously revealed that she had been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal disorder that can cause extreme swelling, fatigue and potentially fatal complications.

Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New Jersey, provided more details on the condition in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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“Cushing’s syndrome is caused by prolonged, high exposure to cortisol, which is your body’s main stress hormone,” he said. “Usually, the excess cortisol is a result of prolonged steroid use. We see this many times with patients who have some autoimmune disorder.”

Balazs said the “key” to Cushing’s syndrome is not just weight gain, but a “specific redistribution” of fat caused by too much cortisol.

Amy Schumer is photographed during a guest interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Feb. 13, 2024 (left), and later seen walking through midtown New York City on Oct. 28, 2025 (right). (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty Images)

Fat may be driven to the abdomen, chest, upper back (referred to as a “buffalo hump”) or face, sometimes considered “moon face,” the doctor said.

Cortisol also breaks down protein, which leads to a thinning in the arms and legs. “Weight gain can be tough, involuntary and hard to manage,” Balazs added.

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Cortisol stimulates “hunger centers” in the brain, raises blood sugar and promotes fat storage, especially deep belly fat, according to the doctor.

Cushing’s syndrome can also cause high blood pressure, bone loss and sometimes type 2 diabetes, per Mayo Clinic.

In addition to weight gain in certain areas, other symptoms may include pink or purple stretch marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, breasts and underarms, as well as acne, slow wound healing, and thin, frail skin that bruises easily.

With Cushing’s syndrome, fat may accumulate in the abdomen, chest, face or upper back (referred to as a “buffalo hump”). (iStock)

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Women with Cushing’s syndrome often experience thick, dark hair on the face and body, as well as irregular periods. Symptoms among men can include a lower sex drive, reduced fertility and erectile dysfunction.

Mayo Clinic listed other potential symptoms, including extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, trouble with concentration and memory, headache, sleeplessness, skin darkening and stunted growth in children.

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Those with symptoms should contact their doctor immediately, especially if they are taking steroids to treat health issues like asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, as these medications can exacerbate the condition.

The Mayo Clinic has reported that the “sooner treatment starts, the better the chances for recovery.”

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“I’ve had plastic surgery over the years and I use [Mounjaro],” Schumer stated in a social media post. (George Frey/Bloomberg)

For patients like Schumer, weight loss is typically not the main goal, Balazs noted, but it is a “critical sign” of successful treatment.

“The primary goal is to normalize your high cortisol levels,” he said. “I believe Amy Schumer got treated first for her underlying problem. Once the cortisol is normalized, which is the most important step, there’s a role to use adjunct medications to decrease weight.”

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Among GLP-1s, Mounjaro is an “excellent choice to decrease deep belly fat and increase insulin sensitivity of cells,” Balazs added.

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Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s rep requesting comment.

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Hundreds quarantined due to measles outbreak in southern state, officials say

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Hundreds quarantined due to measles outbreak in southern state, officials say

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VIRAL OUTBREAK — Measles surge leads to hundreds quarantined in U.S. county, officials say

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The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed that 254 people are currently in quarantine in the upstate region. (iStock)

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Simon Cowell reveals he’s “aging backwards” with a controversial blood filtering treatment that removes and cleanses his blood before returning it to his body. (Ricky Vigil M/GC Images)

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