Jewelry and Artificial Fingernails in the Health Care Environment: Infection Risk or Urban Legend?

摘要

Jewelry and artificial nail use by health care workers has been linked to the development of health care-acquired infections, although evidence remains weak. As a result, restrictions on their use are not uniform and are often presented as suggestions rather than strict rules. Currently, there is no scientific evidence that has clearly demonstrated a patient infection caused by a microorganism acquired from a health care worker associated with jewelry or artificial nails. However, a number of small, nonrandomized studies have tried to indirectly prove this association by quantifying and classifying the number of microorganisms from hands adorned with jewelry or artificial nails. Their results are mixed and appear stronger for artificial nails and for multiple, intricate rings than for a single, smooth ring, such as a wedding band. Results for other types of jewelry are intriguing, but more studies are needed to make more definitive conclusions.