Surgical gowns are personal protective apparel to be used by health care personnel during any surgical procedures to protect both the patient and health care personnel from the spread of bacteria and other infections. In early times surgeons would dawn loosely woven, readily permeable, all carded cotton type gowns made from the material muslin. Later in 1952, the surgical community realized that muslin which was an effective bacteriological barrier when dry but lost its competence when it became wet, in spite of having multiple layers.

This disclosure led to the introduction and rise of hygienic surgical wear which is made from soft breathable fabrics, nonwoven materials and is non-permeable. Reusable surgical wear has proven to be carriers of cross-contamination, surgical site infections, and healthcare-associated infections. Today, the running trend is the use of one-time disposables gowns that are made of non-woven material produced from polymers, with a polythene plastic film that is liquid-resistant and takes healthcare forward by setting the stage for a surgical revolution.

Here's why disposible surgical gowns and drapes are essential:

• Disposable surgical gowns provide full protection from contracting inflections during any surgical procedures.

• Impermeable disposable gowns help prevent transmission of viruses and other pathogens, bacteria, and infections from patient to surgeon and vice versa.

• The use of antiseptic elements to sanitize hands and body don't guarantee complete protection as the traces of bacteria in the hair and skin still continues to spread. The use of disposable surgical gowns and drapes reduces the risk of such infectious contractions.

• They protect both the medical healthcare staff as well as the patient from nosocomial infections and serve as a protective barrier.

• Disposable surgical gowns and drapes reduce and curb SSI’s.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention released data that proved that more than 30% of Hospital Acquired Infections are surgical site infections that lead to longer hospital stays and in turn heftier bills for patients. SSI’s are usually caused by the violation of infection control practices and procedures, unhygienic or infected environments or surfaces and unwell staff or doctors. Surgical gowns and drapes decrease the transmission of skin flora from health care staff and help to protect the staff against blood-borne pathogens of the patient. Thus the right surgical wear is vital and forms an important part of any healthcare procedure.