Spunbond Polypropylene Gowns and their Use
Our frontline workers, more than ever, are putting their lives at risk to care for their patients.
It is only fair that they are equipped with the personal protective equipment they deserve. Have you ever considered spunbond polypropylene gowns and their uses?
Isolation gowns ensure that each healthcare worker have a barrier between themselves and germs in the environment they work in.
Without isolation gowns, healthcare providers create a serious hazard. Their patients and everyone they interact with are at risk of disease transmission. We are living in a stark reality where there’s not enough PPE for the demand rising.
PPE: The Ins and Outs
PPE, or personal protective equipment is utilized to decrease the amount of hazardous environmental materials that medical professionals are exposed to. There are endless risks of disease transmission in a health care setting.
Health care professionals have received guidance from the CDC, the WHO, and the FDA on how to navigate the proper use and practical application of PPE.
PPE scarcity puts all health care providers at risk. It is a core piece of protection and safety in a medical facility.
Injury or illness can result from a number of interactions whether electrical, chemical, or other hazards.
With the COVID-19 pandemic reigning in all-time high numbers, the demand for isolation gowns has grown exponentially. These gowns are a main line of defense against infection control.
Medical isolation gowns have a broader range of use in various fields.
From education settings to the hospital, to diagnostic testing centers, there really isn’t a limit on the important places where you can utilize them. Here are some examples of common applications of use for spunbond polypropylene gowns:
- Hospital workers
- School Nurses
- Diagnostic Centers
- Imaging Centers
- Pediatricians
- Dentists
- Primary Care Physicians
As you can see these uses range from industry settings. This highlights how important accessibility to these gowns really is.
Spunbond Polypropylene Gowns and their Use
Polypropylene itself is used as an additional polymer. It is a thermal plastic material created from combining propylene monomers. It can be used in different industries for packaging, plastic parts, or special devices.
It was first created in 1951 by two of Phillip’s petroleum scientists named Paul Hogan and Robert Banks. Crystalline polypropylene is now the foundation for this multibillion-dollar enterprise. These polymers were then used to create plastics and textiles needed for various industries.
Polypropylene has many significant material properties. It is chemically resistant in that bases and acids don’t react with polypropylene. This is a valuable asset in a medical setting.
Remember that that polypropylene gowns are only 100% effective if used according to PPE standards.
They can provide protection against hazardous fluids which is why they are so widely used.
Sturdiness and Handling
Polypropylene can resist electricity and transmissivity. It is an invaluable material that changed life as we know it and protects our medical staff across the globe so that they can continue to perform one of the hardest jobs of all.
The FDA is more than aware that the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread rapidly and the supply chain to meet the demands of PPE needs is exhausted.
Because we are experiencing a never before seen need for hospital gear, there’s been many CDC updates about PPE supplies, availability, and changes to isolation gown practices. The CDC discusses documented strategies to optimize the use of isolation gowns when there is a very low supply.
In a crisis capacity strategy setting, which we’ve been in for quite some time, many hospitals are at or near capacity and the CDC is recommending extended use of isolation gowns.
The reuse strategy it’s an unfortunate but honest reality of healthcare providers today. Disposable gowns generally should never be reused.
Gown Level Definitions
If not properly cared for, isolation gown reuse creates a huge risk for both the provider, patients, and everyone the provider comes in contact with
These conversations have been very difficult for healthcare providers and agency leadership. This is why the use of polypropylene in isolation gowns is so important. It provides a high-quality level of reliability during a time when it’s needed most.
While we navigate unprecedented times, it is crucial to have an understanding of the equipment we use. The more knowledge and resources available, the better able to preserve health and wellness across the board.
There are various ranges and styles of polypropylene gowns. These levels of gowns are created and defined by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. These gowns are set at a specific level so health care providers can designate their use, viability, and protection.
These definitions tell us things like the sleeve level, the level of risk transference and its durability. There are four AAMI levels:
- AAMI Level 1: bare minimum protection and used in general hospital settings
- AAMI Level 2: has minimal fluid barrier protection, ideal for uses in pathology and ICUs
- AAMI Level 3: Middle ground protection offering fluid barrier exposure during arterial blood draws, inserting IVs, and the typical trauma level work you would find in the emergency room (blood spatters)
- AAMI Level 4: the highest level of fluid barrier guards, ideal for high-risk transmission (surgeries and virus) and are highly effective
It is especially important for health care providers to know the differences between these gowns today, mid pandemic.
Care is Critical
PPE is important to the vitality of our health care providers and the people they serve.
In the medical field, no one can afford to make the grave mistake of mishandling isolation gowns. Understand their uses, applications, and needs clearly.
If you’re interested in learning more about spunbond polypropylene gowns and their use, connect with our website to find additional resources.