We are learning more about the role of the inanimate environment and its impact on healthcare apparel. For some, antimicrobial textiles are promising. We studied the impact of an antimicrobial textiles in hospital scrubs and noted a decrease in MRSA apparel burden only. There was no impact on hand colonization, which was likely the most important finding. This study was published in 2012.This excellent new article recently published by my colleagues at Duke University once again concludes that antimicrobial impregnated scrubs were not effective at reducing healthcare personnel contamination.The environment and patient were the principal drivers of healthcare personnel apparel contamination.
So, as we now know, apparel is contaminated in the healthcare environment (as is the stethoscope, bed rails,commode, keyboard, mobile phones etc).
We are back to the same message: wash your hands and wipe down instruments before and after patient care. Rolling up your contaminated sleeves probably would not hurt either.
