Why veterinary uniform habits are getting fresh scrutiny

A familiar habit in veterinary medicine, stopping at the supermarket or heading home in scrubs, is getting renewed scrutiny as part of infection control. In Vet Times, RVN Jane Davidson makes the case that uniforms should be worn only on practice premises, arguing that visible workwear in shops, pubs, or human hospitals undermines both biosecurity and professional standards. Her position is opinion-led, but it aligns with a broader shift toward tighter, more explicit infection-control expectations across veterinary settings. (vettimes.com)

The argument isn’t new. Vet Times also published a 2015 piece warning that rising patient throughput, more advanced procedures, and routine antibiotic use could mask weak hygiene practices in clinics, even as microbiological pressure and cross-contamination risks increased. That older warning now reads more urgently in light of today’s focus on antimicrobial stewardship, zoonoses, and practice-level biosecurity. (vettimes.com)

Davidson specifically cites NHS Wales as a practical model, and the current Hywel Dda University Health Board uniform policy backs up the point in plain terms. The policy says staff should not socialize outside the workplace in identifiable uniforms, should cover uniforms while traveling if changing facilities are unavailable, and must not wear uniforms in public places such as shops. It also ties dress standards directly to infection prevention, laundering, and public confidence. (hduhb.nhs.wales)

That human healthcare comparison is relevant because veterinary guidance increasingly points in the same direction. A recent review in Animal Health Research Reviews says commuting should be done in street clothes, not clinical attire, and recommends designated changing areas plus hospital-only footwear in clinical zones. UC Davis’ 2025 small animal infectious disease control protocol is similarly explicit: hospital scrubs must never be worn outside the veterinary teaching hospital, and employees must change back into street clothes before leaving. Infection-control best-practice documents used in companion animal medicine also recommend changing into clinic clothes at the start of a shift, changing back at the end, and laundering clinic clothing on-site or through an appropriate commercial service. (cambridge.org)

Recent evidence adds weight to the operational case. BSAVA reported in January 2026 that contamination levels in 13 small animal practices fell 61% within 70 days and 71% within 128 days after a structured intervention that combined staff training, standardized cleaning protocols, and hygiene monitoring. The biggest gains were seen on high-touch fomite surfaces such as door handles, kettles, and keyboards. Uniform policy wasn’t the sole focus of that study, but the findings reinforce the same point Davidson is making: infection control works best when it’s systematic, visible, and team-wide. (bsava.com)

Expert and industry commentary also suggests this is about more than optics. BSAVA’s 2025 notice on Brucella canis guidance, developed with HSE, APHA, the Brucella Reference Unit, UKHSA, and other government bodies, urges practices to have arrangements in place for situations where infection risk becomes apparent or escalates during care. In that context, clothing, footwear, laundry, and staff flow are not minor housekeeping issues; they’re part of exposure control. AAHA’s infection-control guidance likewise frames scrubs, lab coats, gowns, gloves, and related attire as practical tools for limiting contamination when used correctly. (bsava.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the takeaway is that uniform policy can no longer sit in the “nice to have” category. If a practice expects strong infection prevention, it needs the infrastructure and rules to support it: enough uniforms for clean daily wear, changing facilities or at least workarounds, clear laundry protocols, dedicated footwear where appropriate, and consistent expectations for what staff can wear beyond the building. It also affects trust. Human healthcare policy explicitly links uniform standards to public confidence, and veterinary teams face the same reputational risk if pet parents see clinical clothing treated casually outside practice. (hduhb.nhs.wales)

What to watch: The next step is likely to be more formalization, not less. As practices respond to zoonotic disease guidance, contamination-monitoring data, and tighter biosecurity expectations, more clinics may move from informal custom to written policies covering changing on-site, commuting clothes, laundry, footwear, and when branded or clinical attire can be worn in public. (bsava.com)