Scrubs are the
shirts and
trousers or
gowns worn by
surgeons,
midwives and other
operating room personnel when sterilizing themselves, or "scrubbing in", before
surgery. In the United Kingdom, they are sometimes known as Theatre Blues. They are designed to be simple with minimal places for
contaminants to hide, easy to launder, and cheap to replace if damaged or stained irreparably. The wearing of scrubs has been extended beyond surgery in many
hospitals. Originally issued as replacement clothing if street clothing was contaminated, scrubs are now worn by any hospital personnel in any clean environment. The spread of
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased the use of scrubs but can give wearers a false sense of security that they are 'clean' when in fact are as easily contaminated as any other clothing. The television show
Scrubs is partly named after this garment.