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Official Journal of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
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REVIEW
Contents Vol 17(1)

Nurses’ uniforms: off the radar. A review of guidelines and laundering practices

Cindy Halliwell
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Lyell McEwin Hospital, Haydown Road, Elizabeth Vale, SA 5112 Australia. Email: cindy.halliwell@health.sa.gov.au

Healthcare Infection 17(1) 18-24 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI11032
Submitted: 28 December 2011  Accepted: 20 February 2012   Published: 5 April 2012

Abstract

There is historical and contemporary evidence that nurses’ uniforms, clothing, linen and inadequate laundering processes have been the primary source of healthcare associated infections (HAI). This theme is explored here using published scientific, social science and expert commentary. The relevant themes identified in the literature include: transfer of HAI via uniforms, clothing and linen; hospital laundering processes; home laundering processes and lack of guidelines on maintaining and laundering nurses’ uniforms. The literature reveals a disparity between hospital and home laundering practices, inconsistencies in current infection control guidelines and a lack of guidelines on maintaining and laundering nurses’ uniforms. Importantly, what is absent in the literature is the concept that nurses’ uniforms can act as a secondary source of HAI, acting as a reservoir to recontaminate clean hands. This has a direct impact on the outcomes of national hand hygiene programs. Despite the identified risks, Australia lacks any clear guidelines for nurses or healthcare institutions on how to maintain or launder uniforms to decrease this risk of HAI.


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