Guide to Isolation Gown

Posted by Akshara Shetty on 3/23/2022 to Info

How to Choose the Right Isolation Gown

Isolation gowns are an integral part of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the healthcare industry. When a risk of exposure exists, protective gear such as isolation gowns, coveralls, and surgical gowns should be worn to protect healthcare staff and patients from hazardous bacteria transmitted by blood and body fluids. Due to the pandemic's pervasive production of gowns, healthcare workers have had a difficult time discerning the appropriate gown to effectively protect their workers. Hence, it becomes crucial to understand various kinds of protective gowns as well as factors to be considered while making a purchase of reusable or disposable surgical/isolation gowns.

Isolation Gowns

Isolation gowns are constructed of densely woven cotton, polyester, or polyester-cotton mixes. They're usually chemically finished and can be rolled to improve their liquid barrier qualities. Because they include possible gaps in the back and only cover up to mid-calf, these gowns do not guarantee continuous protection for the entire body.

Coveralls

Coveralls give 360-degree protection since they cover the entire body, including the back and lower legs, as well as the head and feet. They are often made up of three layers of polypropylene fibres, with cotton or cotton mix coveralls being the most popular choice because the fabrics "breathe" or allow air to pass through.

Surgical Gowns

The surgical gowns are made of polyester or polyester blended with cotton. These gowns do not provide full-body protection as they have openings in the back and provide coverage till mid-calf only.

For patient-care procedures, healthcare facilities purchase a variety of gowns. When purchasing reusable or disposable surgical gowns, ask yourself the following five questions:

• What kinds of procedures are done in the hospital?

• What is the frequency of the procedures to be performed in given duration?

• What volume of fluid will be present for each procedure?

• What’s the average time for each type of procedure?

• What is the role of the clinician in each procedure?

Furthermore, it is critical to assess the material and have a thorough understanding of whether to acquire clean or sterile gowns. For isolation, clean isolation gowns are utilized, while sterile gowns are used for invasive operations like central line insertion. A clean isolation gown is ideal for COVID-19.

Gowns must meet the following levels of protection:-

LEVEL	RISK LEVEL	APPLICATION
Level 1	Minimal risk situations	Basic care, standard isolation, visitor cover gown, to be worn in a typical medical facility.
Level 2	Low risk situations	During blood draws, suturing, and in the ICU or pathology labs, for example.
Level 3	Moderate risk situations	Uses include airborne blood draws, IV line insertion, and trauma situations in the emergency room.
Level 4	High risk situations	For pathogen resistance, non-airborne infectious disorders, and long term exposure to huge amounts of fluid, the gown tends to prevent all fluid penetration for up to 1 hour.

We would be glad to know about your experiences with the isolation gowns you have worn while delivering health-care services. Kindly feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns with the above information.