Research has shown that Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV),can be spread from NICU caregivers' and visitors' clothes, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
Four percent of the swabs collected from the personal clothing of caregivers/visitors in the NICU had detectable RSV, the study said. RSV was detected from 9 percent of the high-touch areas in the NICU including computers on the nurse's table, chairs adjacent to the admitted infants and their bed rails.
"There is a need for further research to evaluate how long the virus remains infectious on personal clothing, which will have policy implications in terms of need for use of separate gowns by the visitors while they are in the NICU," a researcher said.
The study authors urged frequent cleaning of high-touch areas and periodic screening of visitors for RSV.
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