Scary : white blouse, a nest of microbes

New recommendations to healthcare professionals emphasize the danger of the inevitable white blouse. To prevent the transmission of infections, cleansing and frequent changes are needed !
White coat often symbolizes the eyes of patients competence of their doctor. But this garment can also carry microorganisms causes of nosocomial infections .
The facts : new recommendations designed white blouses

Nosocomial infections , that is to say those that develop even within health care facilities, are a real public health problem . To prevent transmission of these diseases , some clothes health professionals , as the traditional white gown could be stored in the closet .

Indeed , gowns , such as watches or ties , may be contaminated and carry germs from one patient to another . This is the view of Mark Rupp of the University of Nebraska, one of the authors of the new recommendations issued by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America ( SHEA ) in the February issue of the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology .

" We do not know if the white coats and ties play a real role in the transmission of infections. Until better data are available, hospitals and medical practices should first focus on well known for preventing the transmission of infections means - such as hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and care scope during insertion and care related to invasive instruments such as catheters. " But attitudes must change , because" the public as well as health personnel consider the white coat as a symbol of professionalism and competence . "

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The authors searched for articles giving evidence of the contribution of these clothes contamination. They found five studies showing that white coats of doctors and nurses uniforms could serve as potential sources of contamination. Studies have documented the contamination of clothes with Staphylococcus aureus . Pathogens such as Acinetobacter , Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae were also identified .

Certain factors influence the degree of contamination of white coats and uniforms , as the frequency of use. The burden of resistant pathogens on clothing was increasingly important if the user changed his little blouse. And clean clothing may be contaminated within a few hours !

In addition, if doctors washed their coats at home, this could pose a risk : when washing machine at home , clothes lost their load S. aureus , but inherited together with other bacteria , Gram negative bacilli . These microorganisms could be removed by the dryer or ironing .
No panic: solutions to limit the spread of infection

These recommendations provide guidance to limit the transmission of micro -organisms , such as wearing nothing under the elbows , have short sleeves, no watch or jewelry , etc. . They also suggest that health professionals always have at least two available white coats , and of course they are frequently washed.

Finally, whether attitudes were ready to change a dress physicians , the authors have traveled the scientific literature to determine the perception of patients. In ten studies on clothing, patients preferred that their doctor wearing a white coat . But five studies on patient satisfaction and confidence in their doctor showed little variation depending on clothing. Also, health professionals should not be afraid to abandon the white blouse, for example for scrubs designed to limit contamination. Whatever the product , patients just need to identify them !