Loveday, Heather ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2259-8149, Hoffman, P. N., Pratt, Robert and Wilson, Jennie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-9662 (2007) Uniform: an evidence review of the microbiological significance of uniforms and uniform policy in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. Report to the Department of Health (England). Journal of Hospital Infection, 66 (4). pp. 301-307. ISSN 0195-6701

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Abstract

A systematic search and quality assessment of published literature was conducted to establish current knowledge on the role of healthcare workers uniforms’ as vehicles for the transfer of healthcare-associated infections. This review comprised a systematic search of national and international guidance, published literature and data on recent advances in laundry technology and processes. We found only a small number of relevant studies that provided limited evidence directly related to the decontamination of uniforms. Studies concerning domestic laundry processes are small scale and largely observational. Current practice and guidance for laundering uniforms is extrapolated from studies of industrial hospital linen processing. Healthcare workers' uniforms, including white coats, become progressively contaminated in use with bacteria of low pathogenicity from the wearer and of mixed pathogenicity from the clinical environment and patients. The hypothesis that uniforms/clothing could be a vehicle for the transmission of infections is not supported by existing evidence. All components of the laundering process contribute to the removal or killing of micro-organisms on fabric. There is no robust evidence of a difference in efficacy of decontamination of uniforms/clothing between industrial and domestic laundry processes, or that the home laundering of uniforms provides inadequate decontamination.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1016/j.jhin.2007.03.026
Keywords:	Nurses' uniforms; Healthcare clothing; Healthcare-associated infections; Decontamination; Hospital laundry; Domestic laundry of uniforms
Subjects:	Medicine and health > Microbiology Medicine and health > Clinical medicine
Depositing User:	Rod Pow
Date Deposited:	13 Jul 2012 10:07
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2024 15:39
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/86

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