Why off-site uniform wear is back in the infection control spotlight

Veterinary teams are being urged to treat uniforms as part of infection control, not just professional appearance. In a Vet Times commentary, Jane Davidson argues practice staff should change into uniforms on site and avoid wearing them to shops, pubs, or human hospitals, framing that as one element of a broader, multimodal infection control approach. That position aligns with wider guidance in both veterinary and human healthcare: RCVS COVID-era PPE guidance said work-only clothing should be worn only on site and not for travel to and from home, while BVNA similarly advised that uniforms and scrubs should only be worn at work. Human healthcare policies Davidson cites as a model, including NHS Wales dress code guidance and NHS England workwear guidance, also discourage wearing uniforms in public, partly because of public confidence and perceived hygiene concerns. (knowledge.rcvs.org.uk)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the issue is bigger than optics. Published infection control literature says dedicated outerwear should be changed before leaving the building and not worn outside the hospital setting, because clothing can act as a vehicle for pathogen transfer between practice, home, and other environments. More recent biosecurity guidance for veterinary teaching hospitals goes further, recommending street clothes for commuting, hospital-only footwear in clinical areas, and designated changing zones to reduce cross-contamination. For practices under pressure from antimicrobial resistance, higher caseloads, and closer scrutiny of hygiene standards, uniform policies are a visible, low-tech control that can support a stronger infection prevention culture. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Expect more practices to formalize changing, laundering, and off-site uniform rules as part of wider biosecurity and staff conduct policies. (cambridge.org)