Doctor's Neckties: A Reservoir For Bacteria?

"Studies such as this remind us about what we may bring to our patients' bedside. By increasing our awareness and making simple behavioral changes we may be able to provide a better quality of healthcare," says Steven Nurkin, one of the researchers on the study.

Nurkin and his colleagues sampled neckties worn by physicians, physician assistants and medical students at a teaching hospital in New York. For comparison purposes, they also sampled neckties worn by security personnel at the hospital. Nearly half (47.6%) of the neckties worn by clinicians were found to harbor potential disease-causing bacteria. The odds of a clinician wearing a necktie harboring pathogens were 8-fold greater than that of security personnel.

"This study brings into question whether wearing a necktie is in the best interest of our patients," says Nurkin. "Being well dressed adds to an aura of professionalism and has been correlated with higher patient confidence. Senior physicians and hospital administrators often encourage staff to wear neckties in order to help promote this valuable relationship, but in so doing, they may also be facilitating the spread of infectious organisms."

"While there is no direct evidence to implicate neckties in the transmission of infection to patients, the link between contaminated necktie and the potential for transmission must be considered," says Nurkin.