Contamination of Hospital Scrubs

University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bacterial Contamination

Treatments: Other: Non-impregnated scrubs; Other: Antimicrobial impregnated scrubs

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01594580

HP-00051506

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will test if nurses wearing scrubs treated with an antimicrobial agent while performing patient care will:

• Decrease the amount of bacterial contamination on scrubs at the end of a typical hospital shift during routine use after home laundering

This study will gather information by obtaining swabs from scrubs treated with an antimicrobial and from non-treated scrubs.

Full description

The outcome of interest is the contamination of scrubs with Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species or Gram-negative bacteria as determined by surface swabs of healthcare worker scrubs after a full 8-hour shift. The outcomes will be analyzed both individually and collectively.

Contamination will be defined as:

• A swab that is determined to be positive for any Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species, or Gram-negative bacteria after a hospital shift.

Enrollment: 111 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Nursing staff engaging in direct patient care
• Working in select/participating intensive care and intermediate care units
• Working at least 8 day shifts in one month (study period)

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant
• Unable to provide consent
• Unable to follow study schedule

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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111 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Antimicrobial impregnated scrubs

Experimental group

Description:

Those randomized to this arm of the study will wear scrubs impregnated with an antimicrobial.

Treatment:

Other: Antimicrobial impregnated scrubs

Non-impregnated scrubs

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Those randomized to this arm of the study will wear scrubs not impregnated with an antimicrobial.

Treatment:

Other: Non-impregnated scrubs