November 2015 Vol.3 No.3

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Short Communication

Is Wearing of Uniforms in Public by Nurses safe?

Julius Ojulong^1* and Charles Lukanga Kimera²

¹Department of Microbiology School of Medicine University of Namibia
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Namibia

*Corresponding Author’s Email: jojulong@unam.na

Accepted October 21, 2015

Abstract

Through observations it has increasingly become a habit for staff of some qualifications to move around in uniforms which they are supposed to be wearing at places of work either for identification or as protective gears. One such group of staff is health care providers. Just as it is important to wash hands between patients it becomes crystal clear that one would also change attire(s) between hospital and community as these may be potential vectors for spread of infection as Marie-Anne Sanon and Sally Watkins clearly indicated in their study. The significance of this is the transmission of Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) which would result in extra healthcare costs and worse, death. We advise that Governments develop local uniform and workwear policies, after taking a full risk assessment to ensure that local policies are appropriate for different categories of staff and should ensure staff complies with needs of their service

Keywords: Hospital acquired infections, MRSA, Nurses’ uniforms, wearing in public, transmission