Doctors should no longer wear ties on ward rounds, because they can spread disease, the BMA says in its new guidance on infections acquired in hospital.

At the launch of the report this week the BMA's head of science and ethics, Vivienne Nathanson, said: “It's up to individuals, but what we're saying to doctors is that ties are a potential reservoir and they're unnecessary. Doctors have to recognise the potential risk.”

Dr Nathanson also said that patients should feel free to ask doctors who were about to touch them whether they adopted strict hygiene standards. “There's absolutely no reason why patients shouldn't ask their doctor if they've washed their …