input on hospital scrubs in unit where all are in contact isolation til swabs negativ

[henry1]

In our 14 bed critical care unit all patients are place in contact isolation until MRSA swabs are negative. Most of our patients are in some type of islation. We have requested to wear hospital supplied scrubs so that we do not have to risk bringing anything home. We would wear street clothes including shoes in and change at start of shift and end of shift. Administration feels that since we all wear isolation gowns and gloves this is not necessary. We understand that this is a added expense for the hospital.They will not even consider discussing it unless we are able to present some recent studies that have been done and if other hospitals are following this practice and why. We would appreciate any input for or why this is not necessary.

[meandragonbrett]

Are you also going to take a shower using 2% CHG before leaving the hospital to go home?

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

It would seem you would follow the same protocol as the OR. That's how they do it-minus the shower. The hospital has the scrubs already don't they?

[Brooklyn83]

I say protect your self

[netglow, ASN, RN]

If you think of the stuff involved over the past years/massive attention about MRSA and facility response -it's kind of silly for them to want proof so to speak

[SandraCVRN]

You still have to wear the appropriate PPEs even with hospital scrubs and now you want the hospital to pay extra laundry expenses. That is how they are looking at it.

I work in the OR and we are allowed to wear home laundered scrubs. We carry them in and carry them home and wash them seperatly from our other laundry just like I did when I worked on the floor.

This is not aimed at you, just a comment....If everyone worried as much about other pt's not just what they might carry home maybe there would be fewer bugs being passed around the facilities.

PPE's and handwashing need to include EVERYONE!!

[PetiteOpRN]

1. MRSA is everywhere. You probably have just as much of it at home as in your unit.

2. In the OR we wear hospital scrubs to protect the patient. Some surgeons ask that we change scrubs between patients -- obviously to protect the patient, but a little melodramatic as we always maintain aseptic technique.

3. Do you have an infection control nurse at your hospital? She would be your best resource. An infectious disease specialist (MD) or wound specialist (plastics or burn MD) might also be able to help.