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[Contamination of workwear in medical doctors and nursing stuff]
M Lenski1,2, M A Scherer3
1Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, München, Deutschland. markus.lenski@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Background:
The hands of medical stuff are the most important vectors for the transmission of pathogens in the hospital. Furthermore a "bare below the elbows dress code" has been introduced in Great Britain.
Objectives:
Aim of this study was to investigate whether workwear contamination of the medical stuff by pathogens is similar to the contamination of their hands and whether wearing workwear is associated with increased transmission risk.
Material And Methods:
In total 54 swabs were collected from nursing stuff, medical doctors, patients and hospital work material.
Results:
Patients had a statistically significant more dense colonization with bacteria (median = 73 colony-forming units (CFU)), than the sleeves of the doctor's coat (median = 36 CFU, p = 0,005), followed by workwear of the nursing stuff at the end of a shift (median = 23 CFU, p < 0,001) and the hospital work material (median = 15 CFU, p < 0,001). Isolated pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter species.
Conclusions:
Contaminated work wear presents a relevant risk for the transmission of pathogens. A "bare below the elbow dress-code" or the daily change of the doctor's coat appear both to represent reasonable measures to reduce the transmission risk of pathogens in hospitals.
Insights
Hospital workwear can become contaminated with pathogens, posing a transmission risk similar to hands. Implementing a "bare below the elbows" policy or daily coat changes can reduce this risk.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Healthcare Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Healthcare workers' hands are primary vectors for pathogen transmission in hospitals.
- A
- bare below the elbows
- dress code is implemented in Great Britain to mitigate this.
- Hospital workwear may also contribute to pathogen dissemination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare workwear contamination levels with hand contamination in healthcare settings.
- To assess if wearing workwear increases pathogen transmission risk.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of specific dress code policies.
Main Methods:
- Collected 54 swabs from healthcare personnel (nurses, doctors), patients, and hospital work materials.
- Analyzed bacterial colonization using colony-forming unit (CFU) counts.
- Identified specific bacterial pathogens present on samples.
Main Results:
- Patients showed significantly higher bacterial colonization (median = 73 CFU) compared to doctors' coats (median = 36 CFU).
- Nursing staff workwear (median = 23 CFU) and hospital materials (median = 15 CFU) also harbored bacteria.
- Key pathogens identified included coagulase-negative staphylococci, *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Enterobacter cloacae*, and *Acinetobacter* species.
Conclusions:
- Contaminated workwear represents a significant risk for pathogen transmission in hospitals.
- A
- bare below the elbows
- policy or daily doctor's coat changes are effective strategies to reduce transmission.
- These measures are crucial for enhancing hospital infection control.
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