Doctors advised not to wear ties to work

During winters in particular, all Asian doctors in Britain wear ties. It is part of the uniform doctors in hospitals. But now the British medical Association (BMA) has advised them to avoid wearing ties or any neckwear at hospitals.

The august body fears grubby ties could contribute to the spread of super bugs. The reasons it has given apply equally in Indian hospitals.

The BMA's recommendation has followed investigation by its Board of Science into the dramatic rise of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs). The report said the spread of HCAIs was facilitated by high bed occupancy rates, the increasing movement and turnover of patients and poor standards of hygiene and healthcare settings.

But the report added that HCAIs were also helped by doctors wearing functionless and potentially germ-laden clothing. Ties, in its view, are an unnecessary clothing. They are touched frequently and worn for longer time and could get grubby and germ-laden.

Tests on doctors' ties in an orthopaedic unit found that all were carrying bugs frequently found in the infected wounds of patients. It is said lurking in the threads of a dirty tie lie a host of bugs and without regular cleaning these organisms can survive on a tie for up to 80 days, which raises the chances of infection.