Role of healthcare apparel and other healthcare textiles in the transmission of pathogens: a review of the literature.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) wear uniforms, such as scrubs and lab coats, for several reasons: (1) to identify themselves as hospital personnel to their patients and employers; (2) to display professionalism; and (3) to provide barrier protection for street clothes from unexpected exposures during the work shift. A growing body of evidence suggests that HCWs' apparel is often contaminated with micro-organisms or pathogens that can cause infections or illnesses. While the majority of scrubs and lab coats are still made of the same traditional textiles used to make street clothes, new evidence suggests that current innovative textiles function as an engineering control, minimizing the acquisition, retention and transmission of infectious pathogens by reducing the levels of bioburden and microbial sustainability. This paper summarizes recent literature on the role of apparel worn in healthcare settings in the acquisition and transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. It proposes solutions or technological interventions that can reduce the risk of transmission of micro-organisms that are associated with the healthcare environment. Healthcare apparel is the emerging frontier in epidemiologically important environmental surfaces.
International Safety Center, The Public's Health, Apopka, FL, USA. Electronic address: Amber.Mitchell@internationalsafetycenter.org.
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Mitchell
Infection Preventionist Consultants, Boston, MA, USA.
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Spencer
Department of Surgery, Surgical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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Edmiston
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007847:Laundry Service, Hospital; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000382:microbiology*; D013784:Textiles / Q000382:microbiology*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
Active barrier apparel; Antimicrobial; Contaminated textiles; Disinfection; Environmental pathogens; Healthcare apparel; Healthcare laundering; Healthcare-associated infections; Occupational exposure; Personal protective equipment