Editorial Analysis In her article "Hospital Scrubs Are a Germy, Deadly Mess," Betsy McCaughey warns that unclean hospital uniforms endanger not only patients, but can also endanger the general public. McCaughey notes that this is because medical personnel can be seen wearing their scrubs while they shop, eat, are on public transportation, and will even wear them at home. McCaughey is certain that many people do not realize how many germs are contained on the average doctors/nurses uniform and explains that “superbugs” could possibly transport into public places such as restaurants and public transit. The infection called “Clostridium difficile” (C. diff) is a good example of such a “bug.”
McCaughey, who is chair of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, builds her case by citing reliable sources and studies. For example, she indicates that the National Hospital Survey released in November warns that “C. Diff” infections are spreading rapidly and that “nearly half a million people a year in the U.S.” have become infected. McCaughey also gives statistics from the University of Maryland that 65% of professionals confessed that they wash their uniform less than one time per week and the other 15% change their uniform less than once a month. McCaughey demonstrates ethos throughout her article by constantly giving the reader factual information on clostridium difficile.
McCaughey points out that C. diff is difficult to contain within a hospital environment and states that it “contaminates virtually every surface.” Even “after routine cleaning, 78% of surfaces still had C. diff” and only “scrubbing it with bleach removed it.” She references yet another study which shows that “more than 20% of nurses' uniforms had C. diff on them at the end of a shift.” Because these individuals are wearing their uniforms out to public places, it is logical to assume that