Your doctor may conscientious about washing his hands, but that doesn’t mean he’s germ-free. A recent study at The New York Hospital Queens found that nearly half of the neckties worn by clinicians harbored potentially disease-causing bacteria. Simply brushing against your doctor’s tie could put you at risk for urinary tract infections, skin irritations, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal diseases, and even potentially fatal E. coli-related illnesses, warns Scott Kale, M.D., who’s featured in the film “Things You Should Know”.
Before Entering the Hospital (patientsafetyvideo.com). Kale advises patients to politely request that doctors tuck their ties into their shifts and immediately wash their hands.