Contamination of health care workers’ coats at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: the nosocomial risk

Table 1 Relationship between white-coat usage/handling practices and bacterial contamination of white coats among health workers (n = 107) at UTH (2014)

Parameter assessed	No. of white coats examined	No. of white coats contaminated	Contamination rate (%)
Length of time of white coat is in use
30–60 mins	15	7	46.7
>60 mins	92	44	47.8
Total	107	51	47.7
Number of white coats possessed
1	18	8	44.4
2	49	23	46.9
>2	40	20	50.0
Total	107	51	47.7
Frequency of laundering of white coat per week
Once	29	12	41.4
>Twice	78	39	50.0
Total	107	51	47.7
Places worn
Within department	74	39	52.7
Outside department	33	12	36.4
Total	107	51	47.7
Professional
Medical officer	83	39	47.0
Lab personnel	24	12	50.0
Total	107	51	47.7
Gender
Male	85	42	49.4
Female	22	9	40.9
Total	107	51	47.7
Storage
Within hospital	45	12	26.7
Home	62	39	62.9
Total	107	51	47.7
Disinfectant used
Yes	45	15	33.3
No	62	36	58.1
Total	107	51	47.7

ISSN: 1745-6673