Research Article
Bacteria on Medical Professionals’ White Coats in a University Hospital
Table 1
Ward-wise distribution of bacterial load on fabric swatches after the first and second work shifts.
| Wards | Work shift | Bacterial count (CFU/inch2) | Sample from nurses | Average count = (1 + 2)/2 | Increase after second shift (%) | 1 | 2 |
| Medicine | I | 125 | 94 | 109.5 | 54.3 | II | 175 | 163 | 169 |
| Surgery | I | 119 | 88 | 103.5 | 51.2 | II | 206 | 107 | 156.5 |
| Postoperative | I | 381 | 681 | 531 | 27.3 | II | 475 | 877 | 676 |
| Maternity | I | 1875 | 1125 | 1500 | 29.5 | II | 2348 | 1537 | 1942.5 |
| Intensive care unit | I | 500 | 487 | 493.5 | 248.2 | II | 1875 | 1562 | 1718.5 |
| Pediatric | I | 325 | 487 | 406 | 18.5 | II | 394 | 568 | 481 |
| Total count in all six wards | I | 3325 | 2962 | 3143.5 | 63.6 | II | 5473 | 4814 | 5143.5 |
| Average count in each ward | I | 554 | 494 | 524 | 63.6 | II | 912 | 802 | 857 |
| Controls | No growth |
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