What is surgical attire used for? The function of scrubs and differences from a sterile gown

Article published at: Jan 7, 2025 Article author: Equipo Jelrisofit
¿Para qué sirve el uniforme quirúrgico? Función del scrub y diferencias con la bata estéril
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Surgical uniforms, or scrubs, serve as workwear for staff who must change for a shift or for a specific area required by their institution. They usually consist of a tunic and pants, and are chosen based on the task, the facility's regulations, and how the garment will be washed or managed.

Before wearing them in a clinic, hospital, or practice, it is advisable to confirm three things: in which area you will be, what type of activity you will perform, and whether the procedure requires a sterile gown or additional personal protective equipment (PPE). The term surgical uniform is frequently used for different garments, and that distinction changes what you need to check.

The function of the scrub depends on the area where it is used

A scrub is a garment intended for the workday. It can facilitate changing clothes to enter an area, maintain a presentation defined by the institution, and allow everyday movements such as walking, sitting, or bending over. The specific use depends on the position: a consultation room, an equipment center, a procedure area, or an operating room may have different requirements.

The World Health Organization describes scrubs as routine service wear, which can be reusable or single-use and is not sterile by itself. Therefore, the utility of a tunic and pants set should not be confused with that of a protective garment or a sterile gown for a procedure. World Health Organization

What the work set includes and what is added depending on the procedure

The basic set usually includes a tunic and pants. The cut, waist type, pockets, and composition may vary between models. These details are checked to ensure that the garment fits the user's routine and the area's rules, not to infer a protection classification that the product sheet does not indicate.

In some areas, a cap, face mask, specific footwear, or other garments are also required. When a procedure requires a sterile field or there is a risk that demands specific protection, the elements established by the protocol are added. The scrub may be part of that work set, but it does not automatically replace the other components.

Scrub, sterile gown, and PPE: three garments with different functions

Garment What it is checked for What needs to be confirmed
Scrub or surgical pajamas As workwear for a shift or an area where the institution requires its use. Size, washing, color, permitted items, and the area where it will be used.
Sterile surgical gown For activities that require a sterile garment according to the procedure and the indicated product. Intended use, packaging, manufacturer's instructions, and the handling method established by the facility.
PPE For an anticipated exposure that requires specific protection defined in the protocol. The specification, the garment's limits, and how it is put on and removed in that situation.

What a surgical work uniform provides

For someone who wears a scrub during a shift, the first advantage is having a garment designed to be changed into and worn within the conditions set by the facility. This can simplify the organization of several changes, visual identification defined by the area, and the choice of a set that allows the usual work postures.

Comfort is also evaluated in specific situations: raising the arms, sitting, walking quickly, bending over, or spending several hours in the same garment. A set that is too tight in the shoulders, rise, or waist can be uncomfortable; one that is too long or loose may not comply with the internal code. The size and cut are checked with the movements you actually make, not just with the size you usually buy.

Pockets, the yoke, the elastic, and the seams are part of that practical decision. It is useful to compare what authorized items you carry during your routine and if the area limits pockets, accessories, or hanging elements. The number of pockets does not make a model better for all functions.

Where it is used and when it should be changed

The work area defines much of the answer. Some institutions reserve the surgical uniform for restricted or semi-restricted areas; others provide the clothing, send it to the laundry, or indicate when it should be changed. The Mexico City Ministry of Health, for example, describes uniform changes when moving between certain areas and limits the use of this garment to the areas indicated by its guidelines. Mexico City Ministry of Health

For that reason, it is not advisable to apply the rule of one school, hospital, or clinic to another institution. Before buying or using a set, ask if there is an assigned color, if there are garments provided on-site, how washing is managed, and what should be done if the clothes get dirty during the shift. Those answers matter more than a generic recommendation for the frequency of changes.

When a sterile gown or PPE is needed

The need for a sterile gown or PPE is determined by the task, the anticipated risk, and the protocol. A description such as fluid-resistant, water-repellent, or for medical use does not demonstrate by itself that a garment meets all the risks of a procedure. The CDC explains that the materials and areas of a protective garment are evaluated according to their test methods and the intended contact. CDC: protective clothing standards

If the activity requires protection against a specific exposure, the facility must indicate which piece corresponds and how it is used. The scrub remains as workwear underneath or separately from those elements, according to the established process. To compare the size, fabric, washing, and other details of a specific model, consult the characteristics that should be checked in a surgical uniform.

Relate the model sheet to your routine

A product sheet serves to check the composition, size guide, type of closure or waist, pockets, and care instructions. Read it along with your institution's list of requirements. If the model does not indicate a feature necessary for the procedure, that feature must be confirmed in the appropriate garment, not assumed from the brand name.

It is also useful to calculate how many changes you need per week and how they will be washed. The appropriate garment for someone who receives the uniform and uses institutional laundry may be different from the one needed by someone who must have several changes for authorized practices. The decision improves when the model, the care method, and the area rule match.

Make three checks before using it

  1. Confirm in which area you will work and what type of uniform the institution requires.
  2. Verify if the activity requires only a work scrub or also a sterile gown or PPE with a specific specification.
  3. Compare the model sheet with your size, your usual movements, and the available washing method.

With those three checks, the uniform stops being a purchase based only on color or appearance. You can choose a work garment appropriate for your shift and leave the specific protection needs in the hands of the protocol and the equipment indicated for that task.

Sources consulted

  • World Health Organization — https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/372261/WHO-WPE-CRS-HCR-2023.1-eng.pdf
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/protective-clothing/standards.html
  • Mexico City Ministry of Health — https://data.salud.cdmx.gob.mx/ssdf/portalut/archivo/Articulos/Art121F_I/Normatividad/lineamientos/Tecnicas-de-Enfermeria-en-la-Central-de-Equipos-y-Esterilizacion.pdf
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