To help you choose the right gown, we take you through all the fundamentals and the key things in selecting the best one.
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the use of isolation gowns is now becoming popular among the public. They are part of personal protective equipment (PPE). During this time of the pandemic, the demand for gowns from the public is also increasing. Because the rise of the virus spread is becoming more threatening. It gives us more reasons to find simple alternatives to fight the virus. Isolation gowns can significantly help people to protect themselves.
It is essential to know how to choose the best isolation gown level for protection. It can be confusing to choose the right quality isolation gown from a multitude of manufacturers.
An isolation gown protects front-line PPE from fluid penetration and infectious droplets. The disposable gowns offer to prevent microorganisms from being transmitted to those with weak immune systems.
Surgical gowns are medical garments worn by surgeons during operations. They are usually made from a disposable material such as paper or plastic, and are designed to protect the wearer’s clothes from blood and other bodily fluids. Gowns may also be worn by patients in some hospital settings.
Reusable isolation gowns are made from durable, washable fabrics and are designed to be used multiple times. They provide the same level of protection as disposable gowns, but at a fraction of the cost. Reusable gowns are an excellent choice for healthcare facilities looking to reduce their environmental impact and save money.
The barrier requirements for the design and construction of surgical gowns, other protective apparel are based on the anticipated location and degree of liquid contact, given the expected conditions of use. The critical zones include those areas where direct contact with blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials, although areas outside of the critical zones can inadvertently be sprayed or splashed as well.
Source: Critical Zones for Surgical Gowns. (2021, January 13). [Photograph].
Source: Critical Zones for Surgical Isolation Gowns and Non-Surgical Gowns. (2021, January 13). [Photograph].
“Surgical Gowns and Surgical Isolation Gowns are regulated by the FDA as a Class II medical device that requires a 510(k) premarket notification.”
“Non-Surgical Gowns are Class I medical devices (exempt from premarket review)”
The protection level refers to the minimum set of security measures that must be implemented by organizations in order to protect their information and systems. These standards are typically set by government or industry bodies, and organizations must ensure that they comply with these standards in order to avoid penalties or other consequences.
The AAMI levels of protection are a system used to classify medical devices according to their level of invasiveness. There are four levels, with Level I being the least invasive and Level IV being the most invasive. Devices that are classified as Level I have little or no potential for harm to the patient, while those classified as Level IV have a high potential for harm.
The standard ANSI/AAMI PB70:2012 covers surgical gowns, isolation gowns, and many other items. These standards are required by the FDA for all medical textile manufacturers.
Protective apparel must conform to a set of standards and undergo a specific set of tests to determine “the liquid barrier performance and classification of protective apparel and drapes intended for use in health care facilities.”
Follow the link below to know more about the standards of the US and EU.
What is the standards of medical gowns? 2 differences between USA and EU standards
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that you consider three things when choosing gowns for healthcare settings.
Answers to those questions determine what type of isolation gowns you need.
Synthetic materials generally do a better job of blocking fluids and are preferred over cotton when it comes to COVID-19 prevention.
The risk level of the environment and type of exposure anticipated determines what types of isolation gowns you should wear.
For example, in a low-risk environment (like a blood draw), the medical professional needs an AAMI, Level 2 gown.
The ease or difficulty with which a gown is put on and removed may affect its effectiveness and the potential for contamination, especially during the doffing of a contaminated gown.
Hand hygiene is an important part of the job for Health Care Providers. Hand hygiene can be achieved by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60-95% alcohol, or by washing your hands with soap and warm water for at most 20 seconds. Hands that are visibly stained should be washed with soap and water before returning to the alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
There are two main types of medical gowns: clean and sterile.
Sterile gowns are designed to protect the wearer from exposure to blood, body fluids, and other infectious materials. They are usually made of a disposable material like paper or plastic and are often blue or green in color.
Clean gowns, on the other hand, are not necessarily disposable and can be made of a variety of materials including cotton or polyester. While they offer some protection from exposure to blood and body fluids, they are not as effective as sterile gowns in preventing the spread of infection.
According to the CDC’s COVID-19 resources, selecting the correct level of isolation gown depends on the protection needed for the circumstances.
For patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, please use non-sterile disposable patient isolation gowns, which are used for routine patient care in healthcare settings.
For medical professionals engaging in activities where the risk of bodily fluid exposure is low or minimal, gowns that claim minimal or low-risk levels of barrier protection (ANSI/AAMI PB70 Level 1 or Level 2) can be used.
For situations where medium to high-risk levels of contamination and need for a large critical zone, isolation gowns that claim moderate to high barrier protection (ANSI/AAMI PB70 Level 3 or Level 4) can be used.
Companies might advertise different product names when they are selling isolation gowns (e.g., patient gown, nursing gown, procedural gown, non-surgical gown, etc.) It is important to consider the function and intended use of the product, as well as what level of protection it offers. You will be able to choose the right isolation gown by looking at the description and packaging.
The Product label is more important than the product name.
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