Provision and decontamination of uniforms in the NHS.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the provision and decontamination of uniforms within a cross-section of NHS trusts in the UK and to compare policies regarding their use.


METHODS
A questionnaire was circulated to 170 NHS trust infection control teams in the UK. Eighty-six (51 per cent) responses were received, which represented 101 NHS trusts.


RESULTS
Less than half of the trusts (47 per cent) provide adequate numbers of uniforms to allow a clean uniform per shift. Only 26 per cent had adequate on-site staff changing facilities and 65 per cent did not launder uniforms. The majority of nursing staff (91 per cent) were compelled, by a combination of these factors, to launder their uniforms at home. Few were provided with any guidance on how to do this safely.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an urgent need for minimum standards to be set for the provision of uniforms, laundering and changing facilities, to minimise the potential for spread of healthcare-associated infections.
Nye
K J
KJ
Health Protection Agency, West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham.
Leggett
V A
VA
Watterson
L
L
D019985:Benchmarking; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004203:Disinfection / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000458:organization & administration; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007846:Laundering / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom