Bacterial contamination of healthcare workers' uniforms: A randomized controlled trial of antimicrobial scrubs. Issue 7 (12th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burden, Marisha; Keniston, Angela; Frank, Maria G.; Brown, Carrie A.; Zoucha, Jeff; Cervantes, Lilia; Weed, Diane; Boyle, Kathy; Price, Connie; Albert, Richard K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital medicine. Volume 8:Issue 7(2013)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2013-06-12
• Subjects: Hospital care -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/jhm.2051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1553-5592

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers' (HCWs) uniforms become contaminated with bacteria during normal use, and this may contribute to hospital‐acquired infections. Antimicrobial uniforms are currently marketed as a means of reducing this contamination. OBJECTIVE: To compare the extent of bacterial contamination of uniforms and skin when HCWs wear 1 of 2 antimicrobial scrubs or standard scrubs. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: University‐affiliated, public safety net hospital PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalist physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, housestaff, and nurses (total N = 105) working on internal medicine units. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized to wear standard scrubs or 1 of 2 antimicrobial scrubs. MEASUREMENTS: Bacterial colony counts in cultures taken from the HCWs' scrubs and wrists after an 8‐hour workday. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) total colony counts was 99 (66–182) for standard scrubs, 137 (84–289) for antimicrobial scrub type A, and 138 (62–274) for antimicrobial scrub type B ( P = 0.36). Colony counts from participants' wrists were 16 (5–40) when they wore standard scrubs and 23 (4–42) and 15 (6–54) when they wore antimicrobial scrubs A and B, respectively ( P = 0.92). Resistant organisms were cultured from 3 HCWs (4.3%) randomized to antimicrobial scrubs and none randomized to standard scrubs ( P = 0.55). Six participants (5.7%) reported side effects to wearing scrubs, all of whom wore antimicrobial scrubs ( P = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that either antimicrobial scrub product decreased bacterial contamination of HCWs' uniforms or skin after an 8‐hour workday. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:380–385. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine