Doctors' traditional white coats could be carrying dangerous bacteria.
"White coats, neckties, and wrist watches can become contaminated and may potentially serve as vehicles to carry germs from one patient to another," Mark Rupp, M.D., chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), said in a news release.
"However, it is unknown whether white coats and neck ties play any real role in transmission of infection. Until better data are available, hospitals and doctor's offices should first concentrate on well-known ways to prevent transmission of infection -- like hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and careful attention to insertion and care of invasive devices like vascular catheters," he said.
A new report published in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology suggested creating a sanitary medical environment should override professional appearances. The report recommends eliminating these articles of clothing and accessories altogether, or in the least frequently washing them.
"As these measures are unproven, they should be regarded as voluntary and if carried out, should be accompanied by careful educational programs," he said. "There is a need for education because the public, as well as health professionals, regard the white coat as a symbol of professionalism and competence. In the future, patients may see their health professionals wearing scrubs - without white coats, ties, rings, or watches," Rupp said.
There are about 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections in the U.S. every year, 99,000 of which prove to be fatal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported according to the news release.
The report recommended doctors where short-sleeved tops without wristwatches, jewelry, ties, and other similar items that could act as bacteria breeding grounds.
The report suggested facilities that require or "strongly recommend" white coats for professional appearance should consider: providing multiple clean garments for each medical professional; provide coat hooks that would allow the doctor to remove the coat before coming in contact with a patient; and require frequent laundering.
Doctors who wash their coats at home should make sure to use a hot water cycle and bleach and dry the garments with a dryer or iron.
The report recommended all hospital employees' footwear should have "closed toes, low heels, and non-skid soles," the news release reported. Medical equipment such as stethoscopes should be sanitized between each patient it is used on.
"No general guidance can be made for prohibiting items like lanyards, identification tags and sleeves, cell phones, pagers, and jewelry, but those items that come into direct contact with the patient or environment should be disinfected, replaced, or eliminated," the news release reported.
All of these practices would be voluntary, but the report suggests the guidelines be widely communicated. The report said while patients prefer their doctors to be dressed in formal attire, not doing so was not found to influence patient satisfaction.
"Patients did not tend to perceive the potential infection risks of white coats or other clothing. However, when made aware of these risks, patients seemed willing to change their preferences," the news release reported.
