'Grippers' shoes: can they be reused?

Area of Science:

• Podiatry
• Infectious Disease Control
• Materials Science

Background:

• 'Grippers' footwear is recommended for patients with painful or bandaged feet.
• Reuse of footwear between patients could reduce costs.
• Evaluating the safety and efficacy of reusing medical footwear is crucial for infection control and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the manufacturer's recommended washing instructions for thermal disinfection of 'grippers' footwear.
• To determine the impact of washing at various temperatures on the material integrity of the footwear.

Main Methods:

• The study evaluated the manufacturer's proposed washing instructions for 'grippers' footwear.
• Thermal disinfection was tested using a 40 degrees C wash cycle.
• Higher temperatures were tested to assess material response.

Main Results:

• The recommended 40 degrees C wash cycle did not achieve thermal disinfection.
• Washing at higher temperatures led to significant shrinkage and deformation of the footwear.
• The footwear's material integrity was compromised by elevated temperatures.

Conclusions:

• The manufacturer's recommended washing instructions are insufficient for effective thermal disinfection of 'grippers' footwear.
• Reuse of this footwear between patients is not recommended due to inadequate disinfection and material degradation.
• Alternative disinfection methods should be explored if reuse is considered, or the footwear should be single-use only.