Home-laundered scrubs may carry a higher bacterial burden than hospital-laundered, new and disposable uniforms, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
For the study, researchers measured and compared bacteria counts on hospital-washed scrubs, home-washed scrubs and disposable scrubs. They found home-laundered scrubs had a statistically significant higher bacterial burden than hospital-washed uniforms. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between hospital-washed uniforms and unused new and disposable scrubs.
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For the study, researchers measured and compared bacteria counts on hospital-washed scrubs, home-washed scrubs and disposable scrubs. They found home-laundered scrubs had a statistically significant higher bacterial burden than hospital-washed uniforms. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between hospital-washed uniforms and unused new and disposable scrubs.
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