A big risk this flu season: that thing around your doctor’s neck
The necktie might seem like a harmless, standard piece of MD apparel. But they may turn out to be germ magnets. Ties are rarely, if ever, washed. They also hang at face level when a doctor examines a patient‹perfect for spreading infections. The British Medical Association recommended in 2006 that doctors get rid of ties “as superbugs can be carried on them.” The American Medical Association is now considering a new, tie-less dress code too, reports the Wall Street Journal. The anti-tie movement has prompted at least one company to start marketing ties with an antimicrobial coating. Meanwhile, some older doctors claim the real issue is a push by younger MD’s for more casual attire. Still, better dressed-down than sorry.