EVALUATION OF THE PROTECTIVE VALUE OF HOSPITAL GOWNS AGAINST BLOOD STRIKE-THROUGH AND METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS PENETRATION

Background: Hospital gowns protect patients and health care workers fr om exposure to blood and other infectious materials. Previous studies have shown that certain gowns do allow blood strike-through. Because o f worldwide increases in the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus infect ions, especially with methicillin-resistant strains, there is now incr eased concern regarding bacterial transmission through gowns. Methods: This study evaluated six gown types used in hospitals (one disposable cover or isolation gown, three disposable operating room gowns, and n ew and washed reusable operating room gowns). Gowns were evaluated for dry spore and S. aureus filtration efficiencies and were subjected to 20 time-pressure combinations with methicillin-resistant S. aureus-sp iked blood (10(4)/ml) to evaluate blood strike-through and passage of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Results: Blood strike-through was low est with disposable operating room gowns 1 and 2 (polypropylene). Disp osable operating room gown 3 (polyester-wood pulp) showed the greatest strike-through and overall passage of methicillin-resistant S. aureus . Operating room gowns 1 and 2 showed minimal bacterial passage, where as the disposable cover (polypropylene) only allowed passage at pressu res greater than 1 psi. Bacterial filtration efficiency testing showed operating room gowns 1 and 2 to be the most protective; operating roo m gown 3 and both reusable (cotton) gowns were the least protective. D ry spore passage was greatest for reusable gowns. Conclusion: Differen t hospital gowns offer varying degrees of protection against fluid str ike-through or bacterial passage. Gowns therefore should be chosen acc ording to the task performed and conditions encountered.