Antimicrobial Scrubs: Do They Work, and What Should You Ask Suppliers?

Antimicrobial scrubs are ordinary scrub fabrics treated with a finish that slows or kills bacteria in laboratory tests. They can reduce odour and may reduce the number of some bacteria living on the fabric, but the clinical trials published so far give mixed results, and none show that the scrubs alone prevent infections. Treat the finish as a useful extra on a well-laundered uniform, not as protection, and ask any supplier for the test report behind the claim.

What an antimicrobial finish actually is

Scrub fabric does not become antimicrobial by itself. A finish is applied to the yarn or the woven fabric during manufacturing, or an active agent is built into the fibre. Different chemistries are used, including silver-based and other biocidal treatments, and they work in different ways: some stop bacteria multiplying on the fabric (a bacteriostatic effect), others kill a share of the bacteria that land on it (a bactericidal effect).

What the finish is designed to do

• Reduce odour during a long shift, because odour is largely produced by bacteria breaking down sweat.
• Limit bacterial growth on the fabric between wearing and washing.
• Keep the fabric fresher when scrubs are worn for a full day in a hot commute and then a cold, air-conditioned ward.

What it is not designed to do

• It does not make the garment sterile.
• It does not stop fluids soaking through. That is a different finish, covered in our guide to fluid-resistant scrubs.
• It does not replace hand hygiene, gloves, gowns or any other PPE. Scrubs, with or without a finish, are uniform garments, not certified protective equipment.

What the evidence says

The honest summary is that the evidence is mixed and limited. A few trials have tested treated scrubs on real healthcare workers, and they do not point the same way.

The trials buyers usually hear about

Study	What was tested	What it found
Burden et al., Journal of Hospital Medicine (2013)	105 hospital staff randomised to standard scrubs or one of two antimicrobial scrub products, sampled after an eight-hour shift	No evidence that either antimicrobial product reduced bacterial contamination of the uniforms or the wearers' skin
Bearman et al., Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (crossover trial)	Antimicrobial scrubs compared with control scrubs worn by the same staff in turns	Lower MRSA on the treated scrubs, but no reduction for some other organisms and no difference in bacteria on hands

Two points matter for a clinic buyer. First, a laboratory result on a fabric swatch does not automatically translate into fewer bacteria on a worn uniform at the end of a busy day. Second, even where a trial found less of a particular organism on the fabric, it did not show fewer patient infections. In the Burden trial, a small number of staff wearing the antimicrobial scrubs also reported side effects from wearing them, which is worth remembering if your team includes people with sensitive skin.

Why results can differ

• Different products use different chemistries and concentrations.
• Finishes can weaken with repeated washing, so a garment tested new may behave differently after months of laundering.
• Contamination on a uniform comes from many sources during a shift, and a fabric finish only acts on what reaches the fabric.

None of this means antimicrobial scrubs are pointless. It means the claim should be judged as a comfort and hygiene feature, with modest expectations, rather than as an infection-control measure.

How antimicrobial claims are tested

Most credible claims are backed by a laboratory test that inoculates fabric samples with bacteria, holds them for a set contact time and counts what survives compared with an untreated control. Two methods come up often on supplier documents.

Method	Origin	How results are usually reported
AATCC 100	US textile test method	Percentage reduction in bacteria over a contact period (typically 24 hours)
ISO 20743	International standard based on the Japanese JIS L 1902 method	Antibacterial activity values, with a choice of inoculation methods

The two are not interchangeable, and a result from one cannot be read directly against a result from the other. Neither proves a clinical benefit: they show what happens on a fabric sample under controlled laboratory conditions.

Reading a test report

When a supplier sends a report, check:

1. Which fabric was tested. The report should name the same fabric code and finish you are buying, not a similar product.
2. Which bacteria were used. Reports usually name the test organisms. A claim covering only one organism is narrower than one covering several.
3. Whether the sample was washed first. A result on unwashed fabric tells you little about scrubs that will be laundered two or three times a week. Look for results after a stated number of wash cycles.
4. Who ran the test and when. An independent laboratory report with a date is more useful than a line on a brochure.
5. What the claim actually says. "Inhibits growth of odour-causing bacteria on the fabric" is a very different statement from "protects against infection". Be cautious of the second.

How long the finish lasts

Durability depends on how the agent is attached to the fabric and how the scrubs are washed. Expect most finishes to lose some effect over time, and ask the supplier which washing conditions, such as high temperatures, bleach or fabric softener, shorten the life of the one you are buying.

That creates a practical tension. Infection-control guidance on uniforms usually focuses on hot washing and thorough drying, and you should not compromise on that to protect a finish. If the finish cannot survive the washing routine your clinic requires, it is the wrong fabric. Our guide on how to wash scrubs covers laundering in more detail.

Ask for wash-durability data

A supplier should be able to tell you whether the finish has been tested after a given number of washes, at what temperature, and what the result was. If nobody can answer, assume the finish will fade well before the scrubs are worn out.

When antimicrobial scrubs make sense

They are a reasonable choice when:

• staff wear scrubs for long shifts and odour is a real complaint, for example in clinics with long commutes in summer heat;
• the clinic wants a fresher-feeling uniform and accepts the finish as a comfort feature;
• the fabric that carries the finish also suits the role on its own merits, such as poly-cotton for frequent hot washing or a stretch blend for active work (see our scrubs fabric guide).

They are a weaker choice when:

• the main reason is infection control, because the evidence does not support that on its own;
• the finish adds cost but the scrubs will be replaced before the finish would matter anyway;
• some staff have sensitive skin and no one has checked how they react to the treated fabric.

Questions to ask suppliers

Use this checklist before you approve a treated fabric:

• What is the active agent, and is it applied as a finish or built into the fibre?
• Which test method was used (for example AATCC 100 or ISO 20743), and can I see the full report?
• Was the fabric tested after washing, and after how many cycles at what temperature?
• Which washing conditions shorten the life of the finish?
• Is the claim about odour, fabric hygiene or infection? Exactly what wording can we use internally?
• Has the fabric been worn by staff in a trial, and were there any skin complaints?
• Is the same finish available across the colours and fits we need, so the team looks consistent?

At MISHAREN, some of the fabrics we work with are available with antimicrobial finishes, and we ask clinics to review the test documentation for the specific fabric before they commit. A wear trial with a handful of staff, run through your normal laundry routine, is the simplest way to see whether the finish earns its place.

The bottom line for clinic buyers

Choose scrubs for fit, fabric durability, colour and how well they survive your laundry routine first. Add an antimicrobial finish if it suits your team, the documentation is clear and the price difference is acceptable. Keep your infection-control measures exactly as they are, because a fabric finish does not replace any of them.

If you would like to compare treated and untreated fabrics for your team, look at the options on our medical scrubs page or contact us for a quotation, and we can arrange samples with their test documentation.