Home laundering
Home washing machines and non-accredited laundering facili-
ties simply can't be trusted to do an adequate job of cleaning surgical
attire. There are far too many variables. Instead, all laundering of
scrubs and other healthcare textiles should be done by healthcare
facilities or accredited commercial laundries.
Bacteria and other pathogens can adhere to perioperative clinicians'
clothing, as well as to linens. Accredited laundering facilities are subject
to rigid and regular monitoring and must follow industry standards that
incorporate OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) guidelines (for more on accreditation, see hlacnet.org).
Here again, documented cases demonstrate the danger. In one study
(osmag.net/ghbs8u), 3 post-op sternal infections related to Gordonia
bronchialis were traced to a CRNA's scrubs and home washing
machine.
Wearing scrubs in public
We should always keep soiled surgical attire within the health-
care setting. If soiled (including non-visible soil) surgical scrubs are
worn beyond the perioperative setting, bacteria and other pathogens
— which can attach to clothing and which may or may not be visible
— can expose family and community members to potentially patho-
genic organisms. With heightened concerns about antibiotic resist-
ance and exposure to dangerous pathogens, why would anyone want
to take the risk? Additionally, we should transport and store surgical
attire in a way that keeps it contained within a clean environment.
Storing clean surgical attire in a locker with personal items from out-
side the facility may contaminate it.
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