Transfer of Staphylococcus aureus via nurses' uniforms.

The contamination of gowns and uniforms worn in a burns unit and the transfer of patient's staphylococci by means of nurses' uniforms was investigated. The median values of staphylococci found on gowns and jackets worn during a routine nursing procedure were 3.0 x 10(4) and 1.4 x 10(3) respectively. From the results of model nursing experiments it appeared as if the fraction of staphylococci transferred from a patient's room to the air in a receiving room was 4 to 10 times less when protective gowns were worn than when no gowns were worn. The corresponding transfer directly to the model ;patient' was 100 times less. The protection afforded by a gown seemed mainly to be due to protection against contamination of the uniform worn underneath when nursing a burned patient. The discrepancy between the transfer of an airborne particle tracer and Staph. aureus-carrying particles earlier found in the ward could be explained by the dispersal of Staph. aureus from nurses' clothing.