Bacterial contamination of surgical scrubs worn outside the OR

Editor's Note

In this study from Israel, researchers found that surgical scrubs worn outside the OR were contaminated with a low bacterial load and only a small number of pathogenic bacteria.

For the study, specimens were collected at the entrance to the OR from surgical scrubs worn by 133 surgeons. The surgeons completed a questionnaire on the times, places, and activities in which they were involved while they were wearing scrubs.

The median colony-forming unit (CFU) count was higher (39 CFU/plate) for the surgeons’ scrubs than for clean scrubs worn by a control group (3 CFU/plate), but there was no significant difference between the study and control groups in the rate of pathogenic bacteria (13% vs 9%). The majority of bacteria were considered commensals.

A total of 55 surgeons said that before sampling they took part in medical activities, and 45 said they participated in non-medical activities with their scrubs on. These activities were associated with a higher number of CFUs compared to not being involved in such activities. In addition, duration of wearing scrubs was associated with higher bacterial load.

The data show that even in less than optimal situations when scrubs are worn outside the OR, they are contaminated with a low bacterial load, and only a small number are pathogenic bacteria, the authors note.