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The invariably contaminated scrubs spread pathogens everywhere. However, they are probably not more contaminated than any surface in a patient room and hands are invariably contaminated despite supposed hand sanitation between patient visits. So the scrub problem, as bad as it is, is minor.

Even if hand sanitation were done, and it is not most of the time, the hands are immediately reconataminated by touching scrubs or other surfaces in the patient room. The only solution as recommended by CDC is sanitize the hands immediately before each and every contact with the patient. This is never done. Disgust with the behavior of so-called health professionals over scrubs would escalate into revulsion if you understand the hand issue. These professionals are killing 100,000 hsopital patients each year because of improper hand sanitation. The avoidable annual cost to the medical care system is $30 billion; enough to pay for a lot of health insurance.

So glad you raised this issue. Like the other people who wrote in, I'm digusted that healthcare workers wear their scrubs outside the hospital. Obviously, there needs to be a regulation/law that requires hospitals to provide scrubs in house and launder them in house. But we also have to question judgment of those healthcare workers who choose to wear their scrubs on subways. Gross!

I was cheered to hear Brian confess his flout/flaunt error, since it had surprised me too when he made the flub. But then he undermined his correction by giving the example of "flaunting JEWLERY"(when he presumably meant jewelry).

I guess this is an example of "The Brian giveth and the Brian taketh away."

Harriet is incorrect. She is not correcting your grammar, she is correcting your diction (word choice).

According to OSHA and the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: Scrubs and Lab coats that are worn as uniforms are not considered Personal Protective Equipment and are therefore allowed to be worn home and taken home for laundry. A employer must classify the PPE that they require their employees to wear for specific procedures and certify that these employees have been trained in how, when, where, and how to dispose of PPE (scrubs, gowns , lab coats) and these must be provided as no charge to the employee.( As well as provide for the laundry of PPE so that it is not taken home.) Therefore, if scrubs etc are not considered PPE many medical personal consider them uniforms and as a result they become street clothes. Crazy as it seems...this is the law, and that is why you see lab coats and scrubs on the street, and in eating areas etc.

I find it offensive and alarming. Is it any wonder that many patients in the hospital contract infections or flu? The scrubs of all health care workers should be carried to and from work or laundered at the worksite.

I am always disgusted when I see hospital workers wear their scrubs and lab coats in public. Why they would want to take those filthy clothes into their own homes baffling.

You flouted the rules!!!!!? OUT!

I have my concerns about physicians even cleaning their stethoscopes. And what about the health professionals going outside for smoking breaks while in their scrubs! This happens quite frequently at SIUH North.

I agree the scrubs outside of the hospital just displays those who wear them. Anyone who has had anything to do with a hospital within the past few years will recognize that not only the scrubs are the problem but the people in them. The medical profession has deteriorated both professionally and socially at a rate even more quickly than society in general. I've lost total respect for any healthcare professional in recent years. They have to prove themselves to me on an individual basis.

I'm so glad that you are talking about this. Scrubs on the subway are DISGUSTING. It freaks me out as to why they wear them anywhere outside of the hospital.

Thank goodness someone is talking about this! I am always disgusted whenever I see a hospital worker outside in their hospital wear. I'm amazed that they would even want to wear them home!

Oh Puhleese, you are picking up more germs with your hand on the pole!

It should be totally unacceptable by hospitals and clinics that employees NOT change the second they arrive at work, and then again before they leave. Isn't this basic hygiene 101???

exactly! That's what I always think when I see those scrubs on the subway. The subway is DISGUSTING. How can they wear that stuff on the subway? It's GOT to be unsanitary.

i assume one washes the scrubs before each use but those doctors never wash those white lab jackets.

Oops, last sentence should read... They might as well be sitting on a subway platform during a check up!

Seeing nurses, residents, med students, doctors running about town in their scrubs has LONG been a neurotic peeve of mine. It can't be sanitary for them to ride the F train (for example) straight into a rotation at the hospital. No wonder people are suffering from hospital born infections. They might as well be sitting on a subway platform while during a check up!