Canterbury Christ Church University is the first university in the UK to pilot MRSA-protected uniforms.
Some 450 of the Faculty of Health and Social Care students in nursing, midwifery, radiography, occupational therapy and operating department practice, have each been issued with full sets of MRSA-protected uniforms to wear on their work placements in local hospitals.
The uniforms contain Permagard, an antimicrobial treatment that reduces the multiplication and growth of harmful bacteria while the uniform is being worn.
They have been supplied to the University by a company called Work in Style, in collaboration with Carrington’s, the supplier of the uniform fabric and the developer of Permagard.
Canterbury Christ Church University’s provice chancellor and dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care, Professor Margaret Andrews, said: “The University is delighted to be the first higher education institution to pilot this exciting new development in uniform technology and has received excellent feedback from our students.”
Kevin Heath, of Work in Style, said: “Work in Style informed the University of the benefits and long term advantages of the Permagard uniforms at one of our regular review meetings. We have always found the University to be very forward thinking in their approach to all issues relating to uniforms and decided they would be an ideal partner to pilot these uniforms in the higher education sector.”
Nursing student, Rebecca Terry, who is in her first year of study at the University, said: “The introduction of this uniform by the University among trainee nursing students is a massive step in the right direction and one of the many measures that are being taken to combat MRSA.”
