Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Worker Uniforms

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Healthcare worker uniforms are frequently contaminated with bacteria known to cause infections in humans. These bacteria are acquired during the workday. A new technology of antimicrobial textiles have been developed and incorporated into the fabric of health care worker uniforms, reportedly with effectiveness rates of > 99% but there is little literature describing the effectiveness of Healthcare worker (HCW) uniforms with antimicrobial properties in the clinical setting. Because of the potential benefit that such uniforms could offer HCWs and patients alike, further investigation into whether these fabrics are effective is warranted. Up to 140 physicians, nurses, and midlevel providers who work at Denver Health on the general internal medicine wards will be invited to participate in this study. Participants will be randomized to wear either uniforms (scrubs) that have antimicrobial properties or standard scrubs provided by the hospital. At the end of an 8-hour workday, three areas on each uniform and each subject's wrist area will be cultured to assess for total bacterial colonization as well as for various resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and resistant gram-negative rods. Primary Hypothesis: HCW uniforms with antimicrobial properties will have less bacterial contamination than standard uniforms (scrubs) at the end of an 8-hour workday. Specific aim 1a. Demonstrate that antimicrobial uniforms will have less total bacterial contamination of sites swabbed compared to standard uniform after an 8-hour workday. Specific aim 1b. Demonstrate that antimicrobial uniforms will have less antimicrobial-resistant bacterial contamination (specifically looking for MRSA, VRE, and resistant gram negatives) of sites swabbed compared to standard uniform after an 8-hour workday.

Official Title
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Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Worker Uniforms: A Study of Antimicrobial Uniforms on Occupationally Acquired Bacterial Contamination: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Worker Uniforms

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Antimicrobial Scrubs


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Physicians, nurses, and midlevel providers who work at Denver Health on the general internal medicine wards; Provider must be available for cultures at the end of the day, provider must be on service at Denver Health for the duration of the study, provider must be willing to avoid wearing white coats Exclusion Criteria: Refusal to participate Known to be pregnant

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Standard Scrubs<br>Participants will be randomized to one of three types of uniforms. This arm is the standard scrub arm. The participants will wear new standard scrubs. | |
| Experimental: Antimicrobial Scrubs 1<br>Participants will be randomized to one of three types of uniforms. In this arm, the participants will wear one of two types of antimicrobial uniforms. These are commercially available and registered with the Environmental Protective Agency. | Other: Antimicrobial Scrubs<br>* Participants will be randomized to one of three types of scrubs. There will be a control (standard scrubs without antimicrobial properties) and two scrubs with reported antimicrobial properties.<br>|
| Experimental: Antimicrobial Scrubs 2<br>Participants will be randomized to one of three types of uniforms. In this arm, the participants will wear one of two types of antimicrobial uniforms. These are commercially available and registered with the Environmental Protective Agency. | Other: Antimicrobial Scrubs<br>* Participants will be randomized to one of three types of scrubs. There will be a control (standard scrubs without antimicrobial properties) and two scrubs with reported antimicrobial properties.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Worker Uniform With Antimicrobial Properties Compared to Standard Healthcare Worker Uniform After an 8-hour Workday. | Total bacterial colony count of samples obtained from the breast or lower front pocket, the sleeve cuff of the dominant hand and the pant leg at the mid-thigh of the dominant leg on all scrubs after an eight-hour workday. | 8 hours | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Assess for Methicillin Resistent Staphylococcus Aureus, Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci, and Gram-negative Bacterial Contamination on Healthcare Worker Uniform With Antimicrobial Properties Compared to Standard Healthcare Worker Uniform. | Number of healthcare workers with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and resistant gram-negative bacteria on the three scrub types, all obtained after the eight-hour workday. | 8 hours | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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bacterial, healthcare, worker, uniforms, contamination