Footwear Usage and Practice in Indian Healthcare Centres

ABSTRACT

Healthcare Centres are where the patients get treated, but most of the time, we ignore that it is also a major source of Infections, to both patients and visitors. In India, many hospitals don抰 allow patients & visitors to enter with their Footwear on, whereas, Doctors & other Health Care Workers can. There are no specific guidelines for visitors and patients for wearing Footwear in India. Also, the Indian National Guidelines of infection prevention & control doesn抰 provide sufficient protocol regarding the importance of wearing Footwear for patients and visitors in Healthcare Centres. This article focuses on finding the risk of acquiring Infection & transmission of microorganisms when a patient walks barefoot within the hospital.