Phenelle Segal, RN CIC, is president of Infection Control Consulting Services based in Blue Bell, Pa.
Q: I understand that the surgery team wears sterile gowns over their scrubs, but what about all of the other people in the room that do not wear sterile gowns? I would be very concerned about staff wearing scrubs from home into the operating room, especially those with indoor pets such as dogs/cats where the potential for shedding onto clothing is high.
Phenelle Segal: According to AORN's 2011 Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, here are the recommended practices for surgical attire:
"Clean surgical attire, including shoes, head covering, masks, jackets, and identification badges should be worn in the semirestricted and restricted areas of the surgical or invasive procedure setting.
"Facility-approved, clean, and freshly laundered or disposable surgical attire should be donned daily in a designated dressing area before entry or reentry into the semirestricted and restricted areas.
"Changing from street apparel into facility approved, clean, and freshly laundered or disposable surgical attire in a designated area decreases the possibility of cross contamination and assists with traffic control.
"Health care personnel should change into street clothes whenever they leave the health care facility or when traveling between buildings located on separate campuses."
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