The results of a new study indicate that the skin, clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) of healthcare workers are frequently contaminated with respiratory viruses following the delivery of care to patients with acute viral infections.

The study, published in the Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), examined the skin, clothing and/or PPE of 59 such workers in an acute-care academic hospital.

Viruses were detected on:

• 31% of glove samples

• 21% of gown samples

• 12% of face mask samples

• 21% of bare hand samples

• 11% of scrub samples

• 7% of face samples

Researchers also found positive correlation between virus concentrations on stethoscopes and gowns with the number of torso contacts and virus concentrations on face masks with the number of face mask and patient contacts.

In their conclusion, researchers call for renewed focus on hand hygiene and use of PPE as well as consideration of modifying self-contact behaviors.