Clean Uniforms Keep You Healthy!

Tuesday 25th of October 2011 06:18:13 AM

People who wear uniforms to work need to have a clean one available every day they are required to report to duty. Everyone knows that clean uniforms are important, but it turns out that for some professions, it’s more than important – it’s critical!

A study was conducted at the Shaare Zedeck Medical Center, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel to determine the type of bacteria on hospital clothing worn by the staff. The results were disturbing in that researchers discovered a host of bacteria on the uniforms including some that are drug resistant.

The study was conducted on the clothing worn by 135 nurses and doctors from both the surgical and medical wings. The participants were required to complete a survey that asked relevant questions like how often they changed uniforms. Then the cultures were taken on different areas of the clothing. The study authors said this about the hospital nurses and doctors, “"Wearing a clean uniform daily, providing adequate laundering, improving hand hygiene practices, and using plastic aprons when performing tasks that may involve splashing or contact with body fluids likely will decrease the bacterial load on uniforms. Wearing short-sleeved coats or even having physicians discard their white coats could further reduce the cloth-borne transmission of pathogens.”

It wasn’t surprising that only 58 percent indicated they change uniforms on a daily basis while rating themselves as having excellent hygiene. However, the cultures revealed the truth! The uniforms worn by the nurses and doctors contained plenty of antibiotic resistant bacteria on pockets, sleeves and the abdominal area.

There is a message for all uniform wearers including hotel and restaurant workers. You must change your uniform during the day if exposed to a lot of contaminants, and you certainly should own enough uniforms to wear a clean one to work each day. It’s an investment that can keep you healthy!