Surgical Scrubs
The surgical scrub is a medical uniform worn by
healthcare professionals -doctors, nurses and medical
assistants and workers - in a "scrubbed", clean
environment, the operating room. Because it is a
priority that the operating room be sanitized to the
highest standard, anyone going into the room must always
"scrub in" and don a clean uniform first.
While medical scrubs come in a variety of colors, cuts,
designs and patterns these days, most hospitals make it
a practice to use the same colored surgical scrub so as
not to confuse these garments with those used in other
departments. Once again, this is to maintain the
strictest sanitization standards possible in the
operating room. Keeping the patient free from any
unnecessary infections is key during any surgery. If,
however, a doctor, nurse or other hospital worker
decides to wear a tee-shirt or top beneath his or her
scrub, they must make sure that it does not extend
beyond the scrub in any way because that outfit has
already been exposed to germs and bacteria outside of
the operating room, allowing for a greater risk of
infection.
Uniforms created specially for surgical purposes are
laundered immediately after every use. Using garments
made from high quality fabrics is important as it must
be stain resistant, should not fade in color or change
in shape after several washes. Because of splatters and
exposure to blood, uniforms worn in the operating room
may require professional cleaners to keep them in
pristine, clean condition. In addition, unlike medical
garments worn in other hospital departments, those worn
in surgery should be strictly used during surgery alone.
Once again, sanitization is the priority.
Outfits worn for surgical purposes are often made from
fabric made from a blend of polyester and cotton. The
proportion of these materials making up the fabric will
depend on the brand of the garment with some
manufacturers preferring to make uniforms that have a
greater proportion of cotton to enhance the comfort of
wearing these outfits over long hours. The surgical
scrubs is an important piece of outfit and care
should be taken in its maintenance so that it always
serves the purpose for which it was created.
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