Why Clean Shoes Are Important In Healthcare Facilities

Shoes in healthcare facilities can pick up some pretty nasty pathogens.  However, while walking to your car will help clean off the surface, you should probably leave your hospital shoes at the door when you get home.  Think about it, the hospital is cleaned all the time but people are there because they are sick.  As much as they try to contain their own germs they will escape and most likely find their way to the floors.  While some might argue that shoe coverings are helpful in stopping the spread, it has been tested and that theory is not true.  (1) While handwashing is very important, your shoes don't seem to carry the same contamination results.  

In healthcare facilities it is important that you wash your hands often.  If you are a healthcare worker this might seem obvious.  Also, don't wear your gloves from one patient to the other.  Wearing gloves can help prevent the spread of diseases if they are worn properly.  Shoes in healthcare facilities may carry around germs, they are not actually coming into contact with other people and patients which is actually how the germs and bacteria are spread.  So, be mindful of what your grandmother taught you.  Keep your hands to yourself when possible and don't go around touching everything.  Also, be sure that you wash those hands often as well as anything you touch often such as your phone, steering wheel, or doorknobs of your home.  These are things that we have been taught for years but seem to be taking the back burner in life.

Shoes in Healthcare Facilities

Be sure that you are cautious about your environment.  Of course, don't go around licking the bottom of your shoe but also that shoe sole isn't something to be super concerned about.  Most people with normal immune systems have literally nothing to fear from the bottom of your shoes. However, some people still insist on you not wearing your shoes in their home.  This is their choice and it does help preserve the carpets and keeps the mud off from them as well.  In order to help kill germs and HAI causing pathogens on the soles of your shoes check out Healthy Sole.

Of course if you are entering work with your shoes on and notice that they are filthy, you should probably take the time to wash them.  Dirty shoes can leave footprints and a mess for housekeeping.  If this is the case, you should wash your shoes before going to work.  However, if you are simply wearing your shoes in the medical facilities and to and from work, they shouldn't ever get too dirty for work.  Most medical professionals prefer a certain type of shoe for work as the floors are very hard and unforgiving.

Many times these are not shoes that they will wear other places but are designated for work.  Some people leave the shoes in their work locker and never take them home.  While others will wear them to and from work but leave them at the door.  Either way is fine for the worker's health.  Be consistent with your hygiene and remember to wash your hands.

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998992/