The biggest terror of any healthcare process: Surgical Site Infection.

Approximately 187 to 281 million surgical procedures are performed worldwide each year. A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) in a 2011 survey found that in low or middle-income countries, the incidence rates of SSI ranged from 1.2 to 23.6 per 100 surgical procedures. While the same was in the range of 1.2% and 5.2% in countries with more resources. SSI’s are a cause of significant concerns for any medical procedure; where a prosthetic disease can prompt tragic outcomes. Some of the common nosocomial infections are respiratory infections, surgical wound infections, gastrointestinal infections, and genitourinary infections. These nosocomial infection records for practically 20% of the considerable number of infections that begin at the hospital.

The rigid and regular antibacterial practice is a phenomenal strategy to fight SSI. The utilization of appropriate surgical gowns hinders bacterial contagion of the surgical field acting as a cover to ward off SSI. The principal objectives of surgical gowns are: diminish the transference of skin flora, protect from blood-borne pathogens and aid in obstructing cross-transmission. Hence, one needs to be very careful about the type of surgical gowns used during healthcare treatments.

Reusable gowns are made up of loosely woven fabric that is soft, absorbent and extremely porous. Since it is quickly poriferous, it doesn't have any liquid resistance capacity. Even the polyester and tight woven garments tend to erode their fabric quality over time with continuous washes. On the other hand, disposable gowns are made from nonwoven materials and synthetic fibres to attain certain characteristics. These garments are designed to prevent liquid penetration. Not only this, but it also serves as an effective shield protecting users from a wide array of infections.

Reusable gowns are definitely an economical purchase and slightly have an upper hand when it comes to environment-friendly garments, but it does not fulfil its main purpose, which is the prevention of SSI’s. Disposable gowns are clearly befitting to carry out the purpose of healthcare and safety needs and are unquestionably the wiser solution for surgical garments.

WHY REUSE AND SHARE,WHEN YOU CAN DISPOSE OF AND CARE