Abstract
Tens of thousands of healthcare workers worldwide can only wear a plain wedding ring at work, if any at all. This arose from policies citing early laboratory evidence that rings can carry clinically relevant bacteria, but with little supporting clinical data. Policies that are both invasive and perceived as lacking evidence create a broader scepticism of infection control guidelines: it is therefore important to regularly review the evidence for such guidance.
Highlights
Tens of thousands of healthcare workers worldwide can only wear a plain wedding ring at work, if any at all
Data was extracted on study design and quality, and the following outcomes: hospital acquired infection (HAI) rates, bacterial transmission, and bacterial contamination of healthcare workers’ hands
One observational study assessed bacterial transmission through handshaking and found the presence of a ring did not result in higher transmission
Summary
Tens of thousands of healthcare workers worldwide can only wear a plain wedding ring at work, if any at all. This arose from policies citing early laboratory evidence that rings can carry clinically relevant bacteria, but with little supporting clinical data. Policies that are both invasive and perceived as lacking evidence create a broader scepticism of infection control guidelines: it is important to regularly review the evidence for such guidance
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