Spending 12-plus hours a day in drab, ill-fitting scrub hats prompted Marquardt to invent ... a widely recognized addition in the halls and operating rooms of Houston's Hermann Hospital.

Because some hospitals don't allow reusable scrub hats in operating rooms, Dr. Marquardt decided to develop a disposable line. Free samples and more information are available at www.blueskyscrubs.com.

disposable scrub hats that cover those features, one of the first studies testing the effectiveness of different operating room (OR) head coverings in preventing airborne contamination has found.

Change scrubs and hats after contaminated cases ... If wearing scrubs outside the operating room (OR), cover with a clean lab coat. Change out of scrubs before leaving the hospital.