Antimicrobial scrubs may reduce bacteria

According to new research from Virginia Commonwealth University, hospital staff should wear scrubs impregnated with antimicrobial compounds to reduce the risk of staph infections. Antimicrobial scrubs, combined with good hand hygiene, are effective in reducing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) on health care workers' apparel. Previous findings have shown that hospital textiles may contribute to the transmission of pathogens through indirect contact via the hands of hospital staff. In the study, 32 workers wore four pairs of identical control scrubs and antimicrobial study scrubs for four months. Participants received identical hand hygiene educational sessions every four weeks and researchers assessed compliance with hand hygiene practices. Once a week, researchers conducted unannounced garment and hand cultures of participants where they obtained samples from the garment's abdominal area and pant pocket – two areas of high touch and high bacterial colonization.