Barrier efficiency of surgical gowns. Are we really protected from our patients' pathogens?
J. W. Smith and R. L. Nichols
Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La 70112-2669.
Surgical gowns are traditionally worn to protect patients from
contamination by the surgical team. Blood routinely covers gowns during
surgery and often contaminates surgeons' undergarments and skin. Because of
risks to the surgical team by blood-borne pathogens, disposable and
reusable gowns were examined. To quantify "strike through," 1440 samples of
gown fabric were tested against human blood in an apparatus designed to
simulate abdominal pressure during surgery. Representative pressures (0.25
to 2.0 psi) and times (1 second to 5 minutes) were studied. Above 0.5 psi,
spun-bond/melt-blown/spun-bond disposable products were more resistant than
spun-lace cloth. New cloth gowns were better than those washed 40 times.
Spun-bond/melt-blown/spun-bond fabric exposed to blood twice was more
protective than spun-lace cloth challenged once. Gowns currently available
exhibit varying resistance to strike through; only those with an impervious
plastic reinforcement offer complete protection.
