The previous wholesale medical uniforms until the onset of the 20th century were different personnel wise and while a  nurse has to wear a long gown surgeons were against wearing them as they thought that the operation room is itself being sterile any extra effort like uniforms is not going to serve the purpose. Later on realizing that they are also part of a profession which warrants cleanliness, they came with white aprons around their necks to theatres for surgical procedures and slowly the attire or the medical scrub gained recognition as their symbol of profession though combating infection is secondary.

In the other way the wholesale scrubs medical personnel thought the scrub along with gauze masks were indirectly protecting them from the various infectants that can spread from the patient and they being the first target owing to their closeness to the patient and are the ones who are part of the surgical procedures. An ideal white was initially the color of these scrubs, which was later dropped as it was considered an eyesore for the surgeons, who needs to be visually sensitive during the surgical procedures. Green color substituted all scrub and medical uniforms which while providing environmental contrast and was consoling for eyes.  They all made blood stains and deposits during surgery getting least noticed naturally changing the frightening red color.