Laundering of Theatre Scrubs at Home (Clinical Feature) (Report‪)‬

The environment can play a marked role in the nosocomial transmission of microorganisms (Al-Benna et al 2008). In addition, garments of health care professionals are an important aspect of the environment that can easily become contaminated. A study reported that 65% of nurses who had performed patient care activities on patients with MRSA in a wound or urine, contaminated their nursing uniforms or gowns with the bacteria (Boyce et al 1997). One critical factor for transmission of a microorganism from a person (patient or health care professional) to the environment and then to another person is the ability of that microbe to survive on that environmental surface (Farr 2006). Healthcare professionals can spread healthcare associated infections from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) via contaminated hands, clothing and equipment (Farr 2006). Neely and Maley (2000) also reported that 65% of healthcare professionals who had performed care giving activities on patients with MRSA in their wounds or urine had donned contaminated uniforms. Considerable data have been reported on bacterial survival after the laundry process (Wilksell et al 1973, Walter & Schillinger 1975, Christian et al 1983, Smith et al 1987, Belkin 2003). Studies have evaluated fabric type (Wiksell et al 1973, Morris & Prato 1975), wash temperature (Wilksell et al 1973, Walter & Schillinger 1975, Christian et al 1983, Smith et al 1987, Belkin 2003), laundry design (Arnold 1938, Meyers 1968, Marmo 1969, Bradley 1970), recontamination of fabrics (Church & Loosli 1953, Spillard 1964, Wilkoff et al 1969, Walter & Schillinger 1975, Fijan et al 2005), and survival of viruses in laundry systems (Dixon et al 1966, Sidwell et al 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971).