Press Release; June 2015
Healthcare /Containing Cross-Contamination of Harmful Bacteria in Hospitals/Clinics
Source: Wilkins Medical Apparel LLC
“The Debate”, Often Contentious, Continues: Should Physicians Be Wearing Neckties…!
Directive: Cross Contamination Management & Control
Judith Rasband, an image management consultant based in Provo, Utah, argues the benefits of wearing a tie for male doctors outweigh any infectious risk. (1) She’s not alone…
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In a survey performed in a public concourse of a UK hospital, HCP were more likely than non-HCP [Health Care Personnel] to prefer physicians’ wearing of neckties for reasons of professionalism. |
Advocates for Disease Control label their concerns: “Mission Critical!” According to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network , a growing number of healthcare-associated infections are caused by bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics." (2)
Comprehensive Data has been presented from both points of view…for over 15 years!
"Since the discovery of bacteria, like unwashed hands, the culprit has literally been front & center..."
Lawsuits have been filed (3), per Mayo Clinic, attempts to treat physician’s ties with bacteria resistant “Nano-Technology” has been shown ineffective. (4)
In short, evidence exists that cross-contamination of potentially dangerous bacteria and pathogens can be transferred from one patient to another via a physician’s contaminated necktie. (5)
Though some U.S. Hospitals, and even some countries such as Israel and the U.K. (2009) have elected to err on the side of caution and eschew neckties altogether, the necktie remains professional attire for physicians in the U.S.
Infections can be a deadly and pricey problem for hospitals. “A 2003 study found that hospital-borne pathogens lead to over 2 million infections and about 90,000 deaths a year. The problem costs the health care industry $4.5 billion to $5.7 billion a year, concluded the research, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.” (6)
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in every 25 inpatients has an infection related to hospital care.”
“February 2014 issue of the Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology journal addresses the issue of contamination of healthcare personnel attire in non-operating room settings “ HCP (Healthcare Personnel Attire in Non-Operating-Room Settings) (7)
Studies have found that about a third of doctors' ties are contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria – and that up to 70% of physicians admit to never cleaning them (8)
2/26/2015 – Once again, “The Centers for Disease Control is raising a red flag that a potentially deadly bacteria may be lurking in your doctor's office. “
“The bacteria, C. difficile, is typically found in hospitals, but a study out Wednesday reports a substantial number of people contracted the bug who hadn't been in a hospital, but had recently visited the doctor or dentist. “
The CDC continues: ”The bacteria can cause deadly diarrhea, according to the CDC, with infections on the rise. The new report shows nearly half a million Americans infected in various locations in one year, with 15,000 deaths directly attributed to C. diff. “ (9)
The studies and data to support the fact that risk of infection in hospitals, clinics…and your doctor’s office, through contaminated apparel, specifically neckties, is endless and difficult to refute and impossible to ignore.
Recently, a very simple solution has come to light. The Company of Wilkins Apparel LLC has launched a Campaign under its Wilkins Medical Apparel Div., to join with Advocates for Disease Control while retaining and even improving, the professional tie-bearing standards of physicians to greatly reduce cross-contamination.
The company’s solution, the Physician’s Necktie Restraint (PNR) (10)
"Until neckties are no longer being used in non-surgical environments, keeping them secure is the next best solution for reducing cross-contamination by otherwise unsecured neckties worn by Physicians."
"The Physician's Necktie Restraint, or PNR [AKA The Tie Thing ®] provides that security"
Dr. Fred A. LaCourt, D.D.S.
The PNR has found its perfect partner in physicians preferring to keep with tradition by wearing a necktie.
Very simply, the PNR is a washable cotton strip only a few inches long which easily secures a tie to a shirt by buttoning it above and below the label behind the tie rendering it secure and unable to dangle freely about patients or contaminated surfaces. Rare is it, particularly in the medical community, that such a large, and expensive problem can be so easily addressed with a product so inexpensive and immediately available to everyone.[Wilkins Medical Apparel, Brookfield, WI.].
“We feel 15 years of ‘discussion’ and untold numbers of avoidable contaminations is sufficient to justify the application of the Physician’s Necktie Restraint, [akaThe Tie Thing ®], and we are, on behalf of all patients and Advocates for Disease Control, proud to be part of tat solution." Wilkins Medical Apparel.
Wilkins Medical Apparel
Div. Wilkins Apparel LLC DBA The Tie Thing
3325 Bradee Rd.
Brookfield, WI. 53005
(262)790-2040
1. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99526