Cleaning Scrubs

[sunflower]

Could someone tell me what the policy is for taking our scrubs home to wash verses the laundry? I work in sterile processing. Also what is the policy for a supervisor becoming a CRCST. If other employee's are certified does the supervisor need to be?:)

[David Freeman]

There are no studies linking home laundered scrubs to elevated infection rates. Many hospitals, mine included, are now mandating employees purchase and launder their own scrubs. It saves a ton of money that can be used for other things like wages and benefits.

As far as mandating supervisors to be certified, I personally think it's a good idea but it really is up to the individual institution and how the job description is written. It is not necessary for supervisors, managers, directors, administrators to be as well trained in every aspect of the jobs under them as the people performing them but I think the closer one is to the front line workers, the more familiar they should be.

[Harvey Johnson]

I read that AORN and AAMI both advise against the use of home laundered scrubs.
Here are links to articles on wearing of scrubs and home laundering from Infection Control Today and HP online magazines.

http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/531inside.html
http://www.hpnonline.com/inside/2007-05/0705-CSsolutions.html


As stated, each hospital should develop their own policy on scrubs and if home cleaning is advised.
Our facility tested a home laundered policy several years ago and found it was difficult to control as each person had their own idea of what was clean/dirty enough to take home as well as trying to monitor 100% adherence to temperature and chemical procedures required for processing at home.
Some items in the hospital environment are worth exploring for cost savings, personally, I don't believe OR or sterile processing scrubs should be one of them.
JMHO
Harv

[David Freeman]

I agree as I am old school but the science isn't there to support it, just common sense and long tradition. Who knows, we finally decided people don't stick their feet in surgical wounds so shoe covers aren't mandatory. And we also realized bugs can't read calendars so 30, 90 and six month outdates don't make sense.

[stevep]

Why would anyone want to take home scrubs to launder that have been exposed to god know's what?? Just my opinion, but I don't want to put the scrubs that I wear in the same washing machine that does the rest of my families clothes.

[David Freeman]

Stevep,

Do you have seperate washers at home for napkins and kitchen towels than the one you use for underwear and socks? I think we carry this cleanliness stuff too far. There is some evidence that we have become so "bug phobic" that we don't build any resistance to common environmental organisms.

[stevep]

David Freeman,

I only have one washer at home for all home laundry. Do you wash your scrubs in water hot enough, and detergents strong enough to kill germs from decontamination room?? I'm sorry, but for me I'm not going to expose myself or any of my family members to the likes of HIV, Hepatitis, etc. Just my opinion!!

[davidds91]

Our hospital's policy is that we should not take our dirty scubs home - even thoughwe do. We can't trust our laundry not to lose them! :eek: But I think it would be better from and infection control aspect to leave them here at work to be laundered.

As far as supervisors being CRCST certified, Mike Ditka said at the Reno convention that "you don't understand something, until you do it." It is also a written requirement (VA Directive 7176) that VA supervisors be CRMST (Certified Registered Medical Supply Technicians) certified. It's the same as CRCST. :cool:

[lmorey]

AAMI standards & AORN recommended practices DO NOT endorse home laundering of uniforms, including personal caps & hats.

Linda