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There is nothing more important in hospital then sanitation. If sanitation is not up to par, people who come in can actually become sick. Scrubs are clothing that doctors and nurses wear in order to ensure that they are completely sanitized before interacting with a patient. This precaution was not always a viewed as a necessity.
Scrubs were simply designed for there to be few places for dirt and germs to hide. Since their design began surfacing in operating rooms, surgeons have adopted scrubs as their uniform. Scrubs have gone from what was once just an operating room attire to extending to other areas in the hospital. Now nurses typically wear scrubs, and the majority of doctors wear scrubs and lab coats. Scrubs are also beneficial to those who come in contact with bodily fluids on a regular basis by allowing the nurses the satisfaction of knowing that their street cloths are not being contaminated. Scrubs have even shown up outside of hospitals. Veterinary clinic nurses and technicians wear scrubs, and some prison inmates have been required to wear scrubs. Scrubs have also reached the fashion industry and are a trendy pajama choice for some young adults.
It wasn’t until the twentieth century that surgeons started to wear specific uniforms. Before scrubs, a surgeon would wear normal street cloths with an apron of some sort to protect his clothing from stains. Neither the equipment nor the surgeon’s hands were sterilized before the procedure. Many instruments were reused, and some of the bandaging and gauze was made out of scraps found on the floors at cotton mills. Today we are relentless with cleanliness, making sure that everything is sterile and washed before patients interact with physicians. Scrubs have provided for sanitary and safe environments for patients and care providers around the world.