A crossover trial of antimicrobial scrubs to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus burden on healthcare worker apparel.

Background. The impact of antimicrobial scrubs on healthcare worker (HCW) bacterial burden is unknown.Objective. To determine the effectiveness of antimicrobial scrubs on hand and apparel bacterial burden.Design. Prospective, crossover trial.Setting and Participants. Thirty HCWs randomized to study versus control scrubs in an intensive care unit.Methods. Weekly microbiology samples were obtained from scrub abdominal area, cargo pocket, and hands. Mean log colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were calculated. Compliance with hand hygiene practices was measured. Apparel and hand mean log CFU counts were compared.Results. Adherence measures were 78% (910/1,173) for hand hygiene and 82% (223/273) for scrubs. Culture compliance was 67% (306/460). No differences were observed in bacterial hand burden or in HCWs with unique positive scrub cultures. No difference in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and gram-negative rod (GNR) burden was observed. A difference in mean log methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aur...