The proper attire for preventing hospital-acquired infections. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America has issued recommendations to help hospitals address the potential that the clothes worn by health care personnel have to transmit pathogens. The group found that there was little evidence from which to develop formal guidelines in nonsurgical settings but did conclude that guidelines would be helpful in light of the role fomites can play in transmitting microorganisms in the hospital. The recommendations on attire include a bare-below-the-elbows approach-in other words, short sleeves, no jewelry, no ties. The complete recommendations, published in February's Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, emphasize that they are meant to help hospitals develop or modify voluntary measures that are "accompanied by a well-organized communication and education effort."