Great measures are taken protect patients and staff by cleaning and disinfecting the healthcare environment. Certain items, such as X-ray aprons, present a difficult challenge and pose a serious risk of cross-contamination

To protect from radiation, aprons are made of heavy and unbreathable materials. Due to the high demands of the work environment they can easily become contaminated, dirty, and smelly. At best this makes the aprons unpleasant to wear. But an even more dangerous risk can be present: patient or staff infection.

“Clinical studies have proven that X-ray aprons silently carry a number of microorganisms – Dr. Jaber (Wayne State) cultured 25 lead aprons to discover 21 were colonized with Tinea species (the family of fungus that causes ringworm) and 21 were colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, of which 3 aprons were colonized with MRSA”

-From “Contaminated X-Ray Aprons and the Risk of HAIs,” by Kathleen R. Jones, PhD

(image of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)