She can continue wearing hers
I’ve never liked wearing ties. Now, there’s a medical reason not to. Do your doctor’s patients a favor and cut off his tie when next you visit.
Herald Sun: Ties Can Spread Superbugs
Doctors should stop wearing ties and traditional white coats at work because they might be responsible for spreading deadly hospital superbugs, according to a British report.
The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents 75 per cent of the country’s doctors, said ties performed no beneficial function in treating patients and, as they were rarely washed, were a potential bug haven.
In Britain alone, up to 5000 people every year are killed by hospital infections such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), costing the state-funded National Health Service as much as £1 billion ($2.36 billion) a year, the BMA said.
Washing hands properly was the most important action medical staff could take to help stop the spread of the so-called superbugs.
However other steps, such as doctors abandoning ties and other “functionless” clothing, could also help minimise the risk, said Peter Maguire, deputy chairman of the BMA’s board of science.
“Hand-washing, wearing clothes that minimise the spread of infection such as clean, closely woven cotton, and stopping wearing … functionless clothing such as ties will make a huge difference,” Mr Maguire added.
Not that I particularly dislike you admins’ choice in pictures, but I do like to read this blog at work sometimes.
I notice that there wasn’t any study of how many germs found on the ties. If someone is contagious then prophylactic measures should be taken whenever entering the patients room.
True, ties are not the most useful clothing accessory. At least I thought so. I was discussing a problem with an engineer one day. He used his tie to wipe dust off a part while mentioning how useful ties could be.
How are traditional white coats bad? Just sounds like the need to change them more often. Or wear a new paper suit to each patient. What’s really funny is in Russia they don’t have sterile operating rooms and have half our problems. They use sterile instruments and the rooms are clean but not to our degree. I also think they don’t wear gloves while they operate.