Bacterial contamination of health care workers' white coats.
BACKGROUND
Patient-to-patient transmission of nosocomial pathogens has been linked to transient colonization of health care workers, and studies have suggested that contamination of health care workers' clothing, including white coats, may be a vector for this transmission.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional study involving attendees of medical and surgical grand rounds at a large teaching hospital to investigate the prevalence of contamination of white coats with important nosocomial pathogens, such as methicillin-sensitive Stapylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Each participant completed a brief survey and cultured his or her white coat using a moistened culture swab on lapels, pockets, and cuffs.


RESULTS
Among the 149 grand rounds attendees' white coats, 34 (23%) were contaminated with S aureus, of which 6 (18%) were MRSA. None of the coats was contaminated with VRE. S aureus contamination was more prevalent in residents, those working in inpatient settings, and those who saw an inpatient that day.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a large proportion of health care workers' white coats may be contaminated with S aureus, including MRSA. White coats may be an important vector for patient-to-patient transmission of S aureus.
Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Amy M
AM
Treakle
Kerri A
KA
Thom
Jon P
JP
Furuno
Sandra M
SM
Strauss
Anthony D
AD
Harris
Eli N
EN
Perencevich
D003020:Clothing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006282:Health Personnel; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance