EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion dress code

Why not simply wear a skirt or dress, call it a Sarong (this might help your street cred), coupled with a matching shirt (call it a blouse) and then there will be no reason to wear a tie? problem solved....

Our technicians wear blue tunics and white trousers, they are hospital provided uniforms. They are imediatly replaced by the laundry service daily and when contaminated. We dont half look smart When you consider we Biomeds spend a lot of the day walking through various clinical areas then it is the least the hospital can provide in order to limit the amount of infection we spread.


Seymour

We could all get naked save for a mask, that would make life a lot easier (and more interesting!)

We still have white coats supplied by the laundry and cleaned foc.
I would agree that white coat, shirt and tie convey a professional image to the patients and staff alike.
Our techs have no desire to wear overalls, even though the estates guys rib us with 'Hello Doctor' comments. :p

There was a DOH circular out a few years ago that effectively banned the wearing of white coats, certainly by non-medical staff who didn't work in laboratories, wasn't there John? Something to do with incidents of non-medical staff wearing white coats to impersonate Doctors. That's why we had to stop wearing them.

RL,
I haven't seen that document and hospital staff don't wear white coats because they are doctors.

Our technicians work in a patient environment when on the wards, and also a workshop environment.

• Lab coats convey a feeling of confidence to the patient and they can easily identify you as a member of staff.
  If you do get splashed with blood or some other nasty bodily fluid, it keeps it off the clothes you wear home/on the bus etc. and you can send it for cleaning and replace it immediately
  If you wear a tie...it will stop your tie from becoming entangled in any rotating parts(If it is buttonned)
  It will stop your tie becoming contaminated
  If you have an old crappy tie the staff will only see the knot

I've spoken to our techs this morning and they like things as they are, always well turned out, with tie and lab coat.

Thats the way (Uh huh, Uh Huh..)I like it...

Regular Article

Bacterial flora on the white coats of medical students

W. Loh, V. V. Ng and J. Holton

Department of Bacteriology, Royal Free & University College London Medical School, Windeyer Bld, Cleveland St, London, UK

Received 28 July 1999; accepted 30 November 1999. ; Available online 25 March 2002.


Abstract
This study has demonstrated that the white coats of medical students are more likely to be bacteriologically contaminated at points of frequent contact, such as the sleeve and pocket. The organisms identified were principally skin commensals including Staphylococcus aureus. The cleanliness of the coat as perceived by the student was correlated with bacteriological contamination, yet despite this, a significant proportion of students only laundered their coats occassionally. This study supports the view that the students' white coat is a potential source of cross infection on the ward and its design should be modified in order to facilitate hand washing. Hospitals training medical students should consider taking on the burden of providing freshly laundered white coats for the students.

Author Keywords: White coats; medical students; bacterial flora.


References
1. P Littlechild, A Macmillan, MM White and D Steedman, Contamination of skin and clothing of accident and emergency personnel. BMJ 305 (1992), pp. 156–157. Abstract-EMBASE | Abstract-MEDLINE

2. A Hambraeus and U Ransjo, Attempts to control clothes-borne infection in a burn unit. 1. Experimental investigations of some clothes for barrier nursing. J Hyg Lond 79 (1977), pp. 193–202. Abstract-MEDLINE | Abstract-EMBASE

3. JR Babb, JG Davies and GA Ayliffe, Contamination of protective clothing and nurses uniforms in an isolation ward. J Hosp Infect 4 (1983), pp. 149–157. Abstract-MEDLINE | Abstract-EMBASE

4. E Grys and M Pawlaczyk, Does a physician's apron protect against nosocomial infection?. Ginekol Pol 67 (1996), pp. 309–312. Abstract-MEDLINE

5. D Wong, K Nye and P Hollis, Microbial flora on doctors white coats. BMJ 303 (1991), pp. 1602–1604. Abstract-EMBASE | Abstract-MEDLINE

6. U Ransjo, Attempts to control clothes-borne infection in a burn unit: 3. An open-roofed plastic isolator or plastic aprons to prevent contact transfer of bacteria. J Hyg Lond 82 (1979), pp. 385–395. Abstract-EMBASE | Abstract-MEDLINE

7. U Ransjo and A Hambraeus, An instrument for measuring bacterial penetration through fabrics used forbarrier clothing. J Hyg Lond 82 (1979), pp. 361–368. Abstract-EMBASE | Abstract-MEDLINE

MEDLINE®
Microbial flora on doctors' white coats
Wong, D; Nye, K; Hollis, P

Public Health Laboratory, East Birmingham Hospital


Abstract
OBJECTIVE--To determine the level and type of microbial contamination present on the white coats of doctors in order to assess the risk of transmission of pathogenic micro-organisms by this route in a hospital setting. DESIGN--Cross sectional survey of the bacterial contamination of white coats in a general hospital. SETTING--East Birmingham Hospital, an urban general hospital with 800 beds. SUBJECTS--100 doctors of different grades and specialties. RESULTS--The cuffs and pockets of the coats were the most highly contaminated areas. The level of bacterial contamination did not vary with the length of time a coat had been in use, but it increased with the degree of usage by the individual doctor. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a quarter of the coats examined, more commonly from those belonging to doctors in surgical specialties than medical specialties. Pathogenic Gram negative bacilli and other pathogenic bacteria were not isolated. CONCLUSIONS--White coats are a potential source of cross infection, especially in surgical areas. Scrupulous hand washing should be observed before and after attending patients and it may be advisable to remove the white coat and put on a plastic apron before examining wounds. There is little microbiological reason for recommending a more frequent change of white coat than once a week, nor for excluding the wearing of white coats in non-clinical areas. [Journal Article; In English; England]

Citation Subset Indicators: Core clinical journal; Index Medicus

MeSH Terms: Bacteria, * isolation & purification (IP); Clothing, * standards (ST); Cross Infection, * transmission (TM); England; Equipment Contamination; Human; Infection Control; * Medical Staff, Hospital

Following on this theme of white coats....Do the doctors actually wear them any more?
At all the places I have been the infection control people stopped the docs etc wearing the coats as they are rarely washed and so act as a bug breeding ground. They usually wear clean shirts/blouses each day so less infection.
Yes they do protect us from spills but so do the disposable aprons the nurses wear. Use them for protection.
I agree white coats look good and give the air of professionalism and mark you out as staff, but what would the laundry say if you wanted a new, clean one every day?
I think we should go with the flow of disposables when necessary and wear you name badge where people can see it. That seems to be the current trend.
Robert.

PS Anyone seen my name badge? I put it on my belt a couple of years ago next to my bleep and they have disappeared... So has my belt, and my toes...Too much beer!

I agree with Robert

Surely if adequate security measures are adopted and adhered to in hospitals then the only people in a clinical area should be staff, patients or patients visitors.

The staff from a particular area should control the access to their area of other members of staff and visitors.

A clean (or grubby) white coat should not be the "comfort blanket" to a patient that you are "trusted" to work in close proximity to them.
If you are working close to patient then courtesy and professionalism should dictate that you let them know what you are doing.

Along the lines what has been mentioned, smart dress is required, ties optional, if working in these environments.

Whilst not a certificate of competency it certainly looks a lot better than dirty jeans and a "very metal" T-shirt.

If nothing else Seymour the colourfull ties acts as distraction therapy.

Better than seeing Heggo's builders bum bent over a VP35.