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MONDAY, May 24 (HealthDayNews) -- Believe it or not, your doctor's dress code could pose a danger to your health.

A new study found plenty of germs lurking in the neckties worn by physicians at a New York City hospital.

The ties were eight times more likely to harbor bacteria than those worn by security workers in the same center, the researchers found. However, an epidemiologist stressed there's no proof that bacteria-ridden garments pose any harm to patients.

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"These bacteria are pathogens in hospitals, but finding them on a tie does not mean they are a problem," he said. "They have to be transmitted from that tie to the patient. The way that might happen is via hands. That is why patients need to advocate for themselves. Asking a physician to wash their hands is much more important than asking them not to wear a tie."

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Here's the thing - in another version of the story, one of the researchers noted observing physicians going to wash their hands, and then go adjust their ties. And then move on to the next patient.

Too bad I'm not in an activist in the infection-prevention arena. Would be great theater to go to a hospital with a high infection rate and give out turtlenecks.
 

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Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
 
If I saw one of my doctors in a turtleneck, I wouldn't be able to stop snickering.
 

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Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
 
This just further reinforces my stance that ties are useless, dangerous strips of cloth.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 


Well, ties are symbols of professionalism and authority. It's probably a significant reason some of the people quoted are really reluctant to consider the possibility that ties are a problem.

Very few doctors actually want to be Patch Adams.

[ May 24, 2004, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: sndrake ]
 

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Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :
 
Find me a man on the planet that would be upset if he didn't have to wear a tie.
 

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Posted by Damien (Member # 5611) on :
 
I don't have to wear a tie... but I DO! BWAHA!
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
*currently weighing the pros and cons of emailing one of the articles on this study to my physician*

Have to email it with a smiley, though.
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
I am for anything that will help get rid of nickties.
 

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Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
 
I so wanted to dobie this thread with "Doctor Dress Codes Kilting Patients", but couldn't find a suitable link.

-Bok
 

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Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
 
There have been studies showing that most men wear their ties too tightly; enough to significantly slow the blood flow to the brain.
Just whatcha need: a physician working with half his brains tied behind his back.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
*wondering how long it will take before someone starts producing "tie condoms" (mentioned in article) and offers them in medical supply catalogs at exorbitant prices*
 

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Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
So now we know that not only are they germ-ridden plague carriers, neckties are also slowly strangling the men of this country.

Can someone please get them banned before I graduate law school?

Dagonee
 

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Posted by Richard Berg (Member # 133) on :
 
Odd. I've never seen a hands-on doctor (i.e. who will actually be poking around, not a psychiatrist or something) wear a tie on duty. Maybe I'm just not paying attention, but I thought the title of the TV drama was Scrubs, not Suits.
 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
My OB/Gyn wore a tie...

(lengthy pause for shudder effect)

...But it was buttoned up behind his white coat.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 

quote:

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My OB/Gyn wore a tie...

(lengthy pause for shudder effect)

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