Are Cloth Scrub Caps A Source Of Infection

Over the past couple of years aorn while still claiming all ears needed to be covered in the or has insisted it never explicitly declared that skull caps should be banned.

Are cloth scrub caps a source of infection.

Green scrubs popular collection of scrub hats are worn worldwide and come in four styles and hundreds of rich. However no scientific evidence has shown a significant advantage in surgical site infection ssi reduction with either cap. For example the semi restricted zone requires surgical scrubs and a hat. Disposable caps with paper sides and freshly home laundered reusable cloth skullcaps.

We are aloud to wear cloth scrub hats in the operating rooms. We have a zero infection rate. Disposable shower cap like bouffant hats underwent testing as did two types of surgical skullcaps another name for the tie in the back close fitting caps that are popular with surgeons. Although i can t police that standard.

The american college of surgeons guidelines indicate that skull caps are acceptable and the association of perioperative registered nurses recommends bouffant caps. The hospital doesn t wash them for us. Then a new study last fall hit bouffant backers with an uppercut and pushed aorn to reconsider its stance on headwear. One of the first studies testing the effectiveness of different operating room or head coverings in preventing airborne contamination has found that surgeon s caps that expose small amounts of the ears and hair are not inferior to the bouffant style disposable scrub hats that cover those features.

Results of the study were presented today during a scientific forum session at the american. Wear long sleeved fully buttoned snapped closed jackets or long sleeved scrub shirts in the restricted area. Other at may 16 2011 10 04 am. The researchers found that the material of the disposable bouffant cap was more permeable to particles potentially containing bacteria compared to the material of the disposable skull cap and the cloth cap.

It is our policy to allow cloth scrub hats for both doctors and staff. Our policy states the hats are to be laundered at home and changed daily. We are suppost to wash them after each use at our own homes. I would not be able to gain acceptable support or cooperation without evidence based proof that our policy needed to be changed.

The scrub tops and pants are available in a choice of premium fabrics including 100 cotton and can be customized for groups. Lab coats from green scrubs are designed to maintain a professional look even after repeated wash and wear. Wear facility laundered not home laundered clean attire in semi restricted and restricted areas.