GOWNS ( Isolation & Surgical )

What is the difference between Isolation and Surgical Gowns?

Disposable isolation gowns are protective articles used by medical personnel to avoid exposure to blood, body fluids, and other infectious materials, or to protect patients from infection. The gown isolates and prevents both medical personnel from being infected or contaminated and prevents the patient from being infected. Disposable surgical gowns play a two-way protective role during the operation.

The surgical gown establishes a barrier between the patient and the medical staff to reduce the probability of medical personnel contacting the patient's blood or other body fluids during the surgical procedure. Second, the surgical gown can block the colonization/adhesion of the medical staff's skin or clothing.

What is the difference between AAMI Level 1 and 4 Isolation Gowns?

The levels of protection of each gown provide as the levels increase, for a specific purpose. Level 4 Isolation Gowns provide the most protection; it is Anti-fluid, Anti-Alcohol, Anti-blood, and Anti-static. The level 1 gown is usually used for basic care, standard isolations, usually for Visitors. The greater the level, the more ideal it is for healthcare providers and employees.

What is AAMI?

AAMI refers to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. AAMI is an international standards organization that develops and publishes technical standards for the medical device industry.

What is AAMI PB70:2012?

PB70:2012 is a publication by AAMI detailing the liquid barrier performance and classification of protective apparel and drapes intended for use in health care facilities. It rates gowns in increasing levels of protection from level 1 (lowest) through to level 4 (highest). It has become recognized as the global standard for protection criteria of isolation gowns throughout the world.

What is the purpose of an isolation gown?

A medical gown is intended to protect healthcare personnel and patients from the transfer of micro-organisms and particulate material.

We’ve heard other terms used for medical gowns like “hospital gowns,” “disposable gowns,” “surgical gowns,” “protection gowns,” etc. Are there differences between the terms used for gowns?

  • Medical Gowns, Isolation Gowns, and Hospital Gowns

These gowns are all members of the same product family and offer protection against the transfer of microorganisms and particulate material. Depending on the level of protection of the product, they may be used for anything from janitorial work to being worn by visitors to healthcare providers changing dressings. They have a wide range of applications and styles that can be tailored to the end user’s needs.

  • Reusable Gowns

Reusable gowns are typically made from fabric and can be disinfected, cleaned and re-worn. Depending on the specific type of gown and its protection level (e.g. surgical, isolation, patient etc.) it may have a limited number of wearing and cleaning cycles before it must be disposed of. These are typically made of woven fabrics like cotton or other synthetic fibers.

  • Single-use Gowns

These gowns are disposed of after use. This makes their use and lifecycle significantly more straight forward from a facilities management perspective by avoiding the need to maintain or contract potentially costly laundering services. These as a rule of thumb tend to be made of nonwoven polymers and/or films.

  • Surgical Gowns

In the United States, the FDA’s approach to the term Surgical Gown is one more based on its protection level as opposed to its name. For example, a “surgical isolation gown” may not be sterile and may be used in areas where there is a need for larger critical zones than traditional surgical gowns.

How long is my medical gown effective? When should I replace or dispose of a medical gown?

Disposable medical gowns are single-use. This means gowns should be disposed of and replaced if any type of fluid has soiled it, an object has penetrated the material, or if there is any type of abrasion on the gown.

 

What are critical zones?

Critical zones are the areas of the gown that are expected to come into contact with fluid. For example, under PB70, a surgical gown’s minimum critical zone includes the front of the gown (chest to knees) and sleeves. Conversely, for an isolation gown, the critical zone is the entirety of the gown minus the cuffs, hems and bindings. Stronghold’s AAMI rated isolation gowns are tested to the applicable standards on the material, at the seams, and on the belt attachment location. This ensures that the entire gown passes the AAMI standards

What level of protection do HILDR Group's Medical Gowns offer?

HILDR Group’s isolation and surgical gowns cover all protection levels from AAMI 1 gowns to AAMI 4 rated gowns (sterile and non-sterile options). HILDR Group also offers the ability to customize customers’ needs from extensive collection of open back gowns manufactured with varying levels of protection. For further details on our various gown lines, contact us today.

What is the donning and doffing process of protective clothing?

Please view the CDC's complete guidance videos here for your

reference. How to put on and take off protective clothing correctly.

Putting on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4jQUBAlBrI

Taking off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQxOc13DxvQ

Storage and Disposal of Isolation Gowns?

HILDR Group’s distributed wearable medical clothing can be stored under normal ambient storage conditions, dry and clean, dust-protected, in the original packaging & carton.  Disposal of contaminated garments is regulated by country of local laws.

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