The use of personal protective equipment, or PPE, is critical to the protection of both patients and medical professionals So in this blog we discuss Isolation gown vs surgical gown. Hospitals and other healthcare institutions may also be sources of infectious illness even though they assist patients dealing with various medical concerns. Regarding lowering the likelihood of disease transmission, infection control is of the utmost importance. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is integral to any effective control plan.
Medical personnel, patients, and visitors wear a standard kind of protective gear known as a medical protective gown while in a medical setting. G gowns serve as a barrier, limiting direct contact with the patient and lowering the danger of exposing oneself to potentially infectious fluids or microorganisms. Even though they may all seem the same at first sight, there are numerous distinct medical gowns that give various degrees of protection. These include surgical gowns and isolation gowns.
It might be difficult to differentiate between a surgical robe and an isolation garment. Although surgical gowns may be worn in any medical setting, some operations call for wider critical protection zones, necessitating a surgical isolation gown. Surgical gowns can be worn in any medical setting. You must first get familiar with the various degrees of barrier protection before comprehending the distinction between surgical gowns and isolation gowns.
Levels of Protection
The level of protection that a medical gown provides is one factor determining its category. These protection ratings relate to the capacity of the garment to protect the user from being exposed to bloodborne infections and fluids. Each gown level must adhere to a particular set of quality standards outlined by the American Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). To assess the amount of protection offered by each medical gown and piece of surgical equipment, stringent testing is performed on each item. This helps to keep both the wearer and the patient safe.
The following are the four degrees of protection offered by barriers:
Level 1 — Minimal-Risk
Since gowns of level 1 provide just a moderate amount of barrier protection, they must only be worn in situations in which the possibility of fluid contamination is very low. During check-ups and other non-invasive procedures, hospital visitors and medical professionals such as physicians and nurses wear them. They are not suited for work involving activities such as taking blood.
Level 2: Minimal Danger
These gowns are superior to level 1 gowns in terms of their ability to prevent the passage of fluids. They are resilient enough to withstand coming into touch with liquids, whether by splashes or splatters. Gowns rated at Level 2 must pass a battery of demanding tests before being used in the field. They are ideal for duties that involve handling fluids but have a limited potential for penetration, such as taking blood or making rounds in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Level 3 — Moderate-Risk
The user of a level 3 gown receives adequate protection, and these gowns are intended for use in medical settings with a moderate degree of danger. They are often used in the emergency room (ER) and for invasive operations such as drawing arterial blood or inserting intravenous (IV) lines, both of which need the wearer to have them on. They are put through a series of tests to guarantee they are effective against liquid soakage and spatter.
Level 4 – High-Risk
Level 4 gowns are intended for use in medical settings with a medium to a high level of risk. They provide the maximum degree of protection against liquid barriers. They are the gowns of choice for surgeries and other operations that involve a large volume of fluids. Because of the robust construction of these gowns, even after one hour of use, body fluids and bacterial pathogens will be unable to penetrate the garment.
High-risk gowns are tested through rigorous testing using simulated blood to verify that they are effective. During pandemic outbreaks, they are worn often since the likelihood of contracting an illness in hospitals is quite high. When dealing with individuals who may be infected with a disease easily spread to other people, extreme care must be used.
Features of a Surgical Gown
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers a Class II medical device a surgical gown. Before it may be sold on the market, a 510(k) premarket notice must first be obtained. Surgery is a highly regulated practice that must adhere to stringent cleanliness requirements. Because of this, all surgical gowns are designed to accommodate patients with varying degrees of risk. There is no room for misunderstanding about the function of each surgical robe since they are all distinctly labelled.
The vital protection zone is a surgical gown’s most critical differentiating characteristic. During a surgical operation, the parts of the wearer’s body and the patient’s body most susceptible to the transfer of illness or dangerous pathogenic microbes are referred to as critical zones.
The essential protection zones offered by traditional surgical gowns are mainly located on the front of the patient’s body. They begin at the highest point of the shoulders and extend down to the knees. Additionally, they begin at the wrist cuffs and end just above the elbows.
Features of Isolation Gowns
The vital zones of protection provided by isolation gowns and surgical gowns are the primary point of differentiation between the two types of gowns. Regarding isolation gowns, the whole garment, with the exception of the binding, cuffs, and hems, is considered a vital zone. The material utilised to manufacture these critical zones has to fulfil the highest possible requirements for the gown to be classified at its level.
There are isolation garments explicitly designed for surgical operations; however, not all isolation gowns are appropriate for use during surgery or other invasive procedures. There are four principal degrees of a barrier protection that may be found in the isolation gowns that are offered. Isolation gowns that are not used in surgical procedures are considered to be Class I medical equipment.
Choosing the Right Gown
The amount of danger posed by the surgery and the medical centre’s preferences should be considered when selecting an appropriate gown. The robe you wear must provide a degree of protection against liquids commensurate with the difficulty of the work at hand. The gowns used for the procedures must be appropriate for the tasks at hand and provide adequate protection.
Some hospitals and medical centres primarily use disposable robes constructed from polyethene or polypropylene. Cotton or synthetic fabrics are often used in the manufacturing process while making reusable gowns. People who are allergic to latex may safely use synthetic gowns since they do not contain any latex.
Each gown needs to be tailored to the individual wearing it. An oversized or inadequately fitting gown might increase the risk of blockage or contamination during a medical operation. The proper way to put on and take off gowns requires adequate instruction for the wearers.
