• Chaim Kaplan, Redentor Mendiola, Victorine Ndjatou, Edward Chapnick, and Howard Minkoff.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2003 May 1;188(5):1154-5.

ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to determine whether covering gowns reduce the rates of contamination of surgical scrubs.Study DesignSeventy-five clinicians had pieces of fabric from clean scrubs attached to two areas of their scrub suits. Participants wore a covering garment when wearing scrub suits off of designated areas (n = 25), did not wear a covering garment (n = 25), or wore scrub suits outside the hospital (n = 25). Subsequently, the fabric was assessed with culture in enhanced broth media and blood agar.ResultsAlthough there was a trend toward lower rates of contamination in the group that did not wear a covering garment, the difference was not significant. At no point, and at neither site of fabric attachment, did those who wore a covering garment demonstrate any advantage in regard to levels or frequency of contamination.ConclusionWearing covering garments over scrub suits does not reduce rates of contamination.

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