ID Experts Issue Recommendations on Healthcare Attire

By Amy Orciari Herman

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America has issued new guidelines to help prevent infection transmission through healthcare personnel attire outside the operating room. The group acknowledges that the role of clothing in cross-transmission remains "poorly established."

Among the recommendations, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology:

• A bare-below-the-elbows strategy may be considered for inpatient settings to supplement traditional infection-control measures.

• If white coats are mandatory, clinicians should have more than one available, and hooks should be provided so that coats can be removed before patient contact.

• All apparel that comes in contact with the patient or patient environment should be washed after daily use; a hot water cycle, followed by a dryer cycle or ironing, can kill bacteria.