title: 'Grippers' shoes: can they be reused?
abstract: 'Grippers' footwear has been recommended for patients with painful or bandaged feet. In order to reduce costs, reuse between patients may be considered. The manufacturer's proposed washing instructions were evaluated. Thermal disinfection was not achieved with the 40 degrees C wash cycle recommended. Higher temperatures resulted in shrinkage and deformation of the shoes. We recommend that these shoes are not reused or that alternative methods of disinfection are employed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011482:Protective Devices; D012775:Shoes / Q000145:classification*