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Disposable versus reusable medical gowns: A performance comparison.
Meredith McQuerry1, Elizabeth Easter2, Alex Cao1
1Retail Entrepreneurship, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
American Journal of Infection Control
|October 22, 2020
Summary
Disposable medical gowns often fail to meet safety standards, unlike durable reusable gowns. Reusable gowns offer better protection and cost savings, especially during shortages like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Medical textiles
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) performance
- Healthcare safety standards
Background:
- Medical gowns are crucial personal protective equipment (PPE) preventing pathogen and fluid transmission.
- During healthcare surges (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic), reusable PPE is vital due to disposable shortages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the protective performance and durability of disposable versus reusable medical gowns.
- To evaluate gown resistance to water and hydrostatic pressure against Association of the Advancement of Instrumentation (AAMI) PB70 standards.
- To assess various fabric durability metrics including strength, pilling, and dimensional stability.
Main Methods:
- Tested Level I, II, and III gowns for water resistance and hydrostatic pressure.
- Conducted durability tests: breaking/tear/seam strength, pilling, dimensional stability, air permeability, colorfastness, fabric hand.
- Evaluated disposable gowns new and reusable gowns after 1, 25, 50, and 75 industrial launderings.
Main Results:
- Level I and II disposable gowns failed AAMI impact penetration water resistance standards.
- All disposable gown levels (I, II, III) failed American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) breaking strength requirements.
- Reusable gowns maintained performance across multiple laundering cycles (data not detailed here but implied superior).
Conclusions:
- Reusable gowns demonstrate superior durability and sustainability compared to disposable alternatives.
- Adopting reusable gowns can enhance protection and lead to significant cost savings in healthcare settings.
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