Differential laundering practices of white coats and scrubs among health care professionals. Am J Infect Control 2013 Jun;41(6):565-7
Date
12/12/2012Pubmed ID
23219673DOI
10.1016/j.ajic.2012.06.012Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84878847235 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 20 CitationsAbstract
The role played by health care worker's uniforms on the horizontal transmission of organisms within the hospital is still controversial. To determine the differential laundering practices in regards to white coats and scrubs, we surveyed physicians present at the 3 weekly academic conferences with largest attendance at our hospital (medicine, pediatrics, and anesthesiology). Out of 160 providers, white coats were washed every 12.4 ± 1.1 days and scrubs every 1.7 ± 0.1 days (mean ± standard error; P < .001). Faculty physicians washed their scrubs more frequently than house staff (1.0 vs 1.9 days, respectively, P = .018), and no differences were observed among specialties.
Author List
Munoz-Price LS, Arheart KL, Lubarsky DA, Birnbach DJMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Cross InfectionDisease Transmission, Infectious
Health Personnel
Humans
Laundering
Protective Clothing
