Believe it or not, but neckties worn by doctors can and do carry dangerous pathogens, according to a study.
It suggests a bedside visit by a well-dressed physician could dole out disease along with comfort and care.
"This study brings into question whether wearing a necktie is in the best interests of our patients," says Dr Steven Nurkin, a researcher at the New York Hospital Medical Centre in Queens and co-author of the study.
"Being well-dressed adds to an aura of professionalism and has been correlated with higher patient confidence. Senior physicians and hospital administrators often encourage staff to wear neckties in order to help promote this valuable relationship, but in so doing, they may also be facilitating the spread of infection," he adds.
Researchers analysed the neckties of 42 doctors, physician's assistants and medical students at the hospital, along with the ties of ten hospital security guards. Nearly half (47.6%) of the doctors' ties contained bacteria that can cause illnesses like pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
Similar analyses of the security guards' ties turned up only one harbouring disease-causing germs.
That means the doctors' ties were eight times more likely to contain bacteria than the ties worn by the guards.
Nurkin notes that there is "no direct evidence to implicate neckties" in the spread of infections in the hospital, but "the link between contaminated necktie and the potential for transmission must be considered. We have to remember what we may bring to our patients' bedside.
"By increasing our awareness and making simple behavioural changes, we may be able to provide a better quality of health care."
Researchers noted that none of the bacteria found on neckties was resistant to treatment with antibiotics.
The study was presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans.