Study reveals why gowns and gloves can be so dangerous for hospital workers

A hospital ought to be the last place to get a life-threatening infection, but it happens. A new study helps explain why. Researchers asked real hospital workers to remove gowns and gloves smeared with fake bacteria. When they did, the fake bacteria wound up on their skin or clothes 46% of the time, according to their report published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. In other words, the odds that these healthcare professionals could take off their protective coverings without contaminating themselves were only slightly better than the flip of a coin.