The Covid 19 pandemic that hit the globe was catastrophic in many ways. It highlighted the importance of infection control and the role Personal Protective Equipment or PPE played in saving the lives of people who were required to be in the proximity of an infected individual. Isolation gowns were one of the key pieces of equipment used by frontline workers who were providing their services even amidst a global pandemic. The need to understand the importance of isolation gowns has never been higher than now having experienced a virus outbreak. 

What Is An Isolation Gown?

An isolation gown is a special piece of garment worn because it forms a protective shield between two individuals. These gowns are usually worn by doctors to protect themselves from getting the same disease as the patient. Isolation gowns are made to tackle the microorganisms that are airborne or can spread through the air and thus easily infect other individuals. 

Isolation gowns are created to resist any kind of penetration wet or dry between the surfaces. They can form a protective barrier between any substance liquid or air that carry microorganisms and prevent them from entering your system. This is particularly important when considering the role of a doctor that must regularly interact with an infected patient without getting sick themselves.

There are two main types of isolation gowns used in the healthcare industry: surgical and non-surgical. Surgical isolation gowns are meant to be worn by both the doctor and the patient during surgery to prevent the transfer of body fluids, microorganisms, or particulate substances. Non-surgical gowns on the other hand are meant to be used in minimal risk patient isolation situations and not when there is a substantial risk of contamination like during surgery.

There exist four levels of protection standards and the type of isolation gowns differ according to the standard. Each level identifies the level of risk to a doctor and the situations in which a specific type of isolation gown should be used. Three main things are considered when choosing an isolation gown. The first is the predicted exposure, the second is the appropriateness and durability of a gown and lastly the fit of it.

The Material Used For Isolation Gowns

Any gowns that are used in a hospital which include isolation gowns are usually made with a material like cotton that can handle repeated washes in hot water. If an isolation gown is of the disposal variety then it is usually made from paper or plastic. 

Conclusion

The recent pandemic just proved to show the importance of personal protective equipment and isolations are a vital part of it. One cannot overlook the importance of isolation gowns as they have been extremely instrumental in saving the lives of millions of doctors amidst a pandemic. Without isolation gowns, it would be impossible for doctors to come near an infected patient without risking their own life. Isolation gowns have been used in surgery for a long time and the past two years helped illustrate how vital they are during a healthcare crisis.

The situation of covid-19 has made everyone use personal protective equipment and infection control wipes or sprays like sanitisers. PPE gowns are also known as isolation gowns, mainly used by frontline or health care workers to prevent themselves from fluid penetration, infectious droplets, and solids. During these times of crisis, thousands of isolation gowns are used per day, but before you use them, there are several things that you need to know and consider. 

What Are Isolation Gowns, And What Are Their Categories?

The main purpose of isolation gowns is to protect frontline workers from solids and infectious diseases and prevent bacterias and germs. Mainly there are two different categories of isolation gowns that include surgical and non-surgical.

Surgical Gown

Surgical gowns are the protective garments that healthcare workers wear at the time of surgical procedures. Wearing surgical gowns protects both health care personnel and a patient from the transfer of body fluids, microorganisms, and other matter. 

Non-surgical Gown

Non-surgical gowns are also known as isolation gowns that anyone can wear to prevent the transmission of microorganisms, and these don’t work during invasive procedures or surgical procedures.

What’s More Important: Product Label Or Product Name?

It is essential to know that a product label should be considered more than the product name. Especially if we talk about isolation gowns, you may find different product names similar to isolation gowns: procedural gowns, nursing gowns, or isolation gowns. Instead of paying attention to product names, which are the same things, it is important to pay attention to the utility or function of the product and the level of protection it provides. Utility, function, and level of protection can be optimised from packaging or product labels. 

What To Consider While Choosing Isolation Gowns For Healthcare Workers?

Three specific things must be considered while choosing isolation gowns:

Purpose

During the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, the main objective is to protect health care workers from the spread of the virus with which patients are affected. Fluid resistance is quite important for frontline workers. 

Material 

Do you know the material used in isolation gowns? The isolation gowns are mainly made up of synthetic materials, polypropylene or polyethylene, or cotton. Some also produce isolation gowns that are latex-free. The best type of isolation gowns comprises synthetic materials as they are better at blocking fluids. People prefer synthetic isolation gowns more instead of cotton material as that doesn’t help prevent the spread of covid-19. 

Clean

Especially if we talk about covid-19, a clean isolation gown must be used instead of sterile gowns. Sterile gowns are specifically used for surgical and invasive procedures.  

How the gown is put and removed affects its potential and effectiveness during the covid-19 pandemic. The isolation gowns must be chosen appropriately as these are available in different materials, fits and sizes.