If you are a business owner, then you know that one of the most important things you can do is protect your employees and customers from infectious diseases. One of the best ways to do this is by using isolation gowns.

Isolation gowns are special garments that protect the wearer from contact with blood or other body fluids. They are an essential part of any infection prevention program.

In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using isolation gowns and how they can help prevent the spread of disease.

What is the Benefit of Isolation Gowns?

Protecting Employees and Customers

One of the most important benefits of isolation gowns is that they protect your employees and customers from contact with infectious diseases. These special garments are designed to be highly effective at preventing the spread of small particles, such as blood or body fluids, which can carry disease-causing pathogens. This makes them a crucial part of any infection prevention program in healthcare facilities, laboratories, or other businesses where there is a risk of contact with these types of contaminants.

Ensuring Employee Safety

Another key benefit of isolation gowns is that they keep your employees safe while they perform their jobs. When healthcare workers wear isolation gowns while treating patients who may have an infectious disease, it helps prevent them from coming into contact with potentially harmful pathogens that could lead to infection or illness.

Ease of Use and Effective Protection

Additionally, isolation gowns are easy to use and provide effective protection. They can be worn for long periods of time without causing discomfort or irritation, making it easier for healthcare workers to focus on their patients instead of worrying about potential risks. This allows them to spend more time providing the care that their patients need.

Types of Isolation Gowns

Isolation gowns are available in various types, primarily differing in their material and the level of barrier protection they offer:

• Level 1: Minimal Risk - Used for basic care, standard isolation, and cover gowns for visitors. Offers protection against nuisance levels of fluids.
• Level 2: Low Risk - Used during blood draws, suturing, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or in pathology labs. Offers greater protection against light to moderate fluid penetration.
• Level 3: Moderate to High Risk - Used during arterial blood draws, inserting IV lines, in the Emergency Room (ER), or for trauma cases. Offers protection against moderate to high fluid penetration.
• Level 4: High Risk - Used during prolonged, high-fluid procedures, surgery, or when infectious agents are life-threatening. Offers the highest level of fluid and microbial barrier protection.

Proper Use: Donning and Doffing Isolation Gowns

While isolation gowns are easy to use, proper technique for putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) is essential to prevent contamination:

Donning (Putting On):

1. Select the appropriate gown size and type.
2. Perform hand hygiene (wash hands or use hand sanitizer).
3. Put on the gown, ensuring it covers the torso from neck to knees, arms to end of wrists, and wraps around the back.
4. Fasten the gown securely at the neck and waist.
5. If using other PPE, such as a mask or eye protection, put them on after the gown.

Doffing (Taking Off):

1. Remove gloves first (if worn), using proper technique to avoid skin contact with the exterior.
2. Unfasten the gown ties at the neck and waist.
3. Remove the gown by pulling it away from the body, turning it inside out. Avoid touching the contaminated outer surface.
4. Fold or roll the gown into a bundle, with the contaminated side inside.
5. Dispose of the gown in a designated waste container.
6. Perform hand hygiene immediately after removing the gown.

When to Use Isolation Gowns

The decision to use an isolation gown depends on the potential for contact with infectious agents and the recommended precautions:

• Contact Precautions: Used for infections spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. Gowns are typically required when entering the patient's room if there is a possibility of contact with the patient or surfaces in the room.
• Droplet Precautions: Used for infections spread by large respiratory droplets produced during coughing, sneezing, or talking. Gowns may be needed if you anticipate contact with the patient or if substantial splashing or spraying of respiratory fluids is expected.
• Specific Scenarios:
  • Treating patients with known or suspected infectious diseases transmitted through contact or droplets.
  • Performing procedures where splashing or spraying of blood or body fluids is likely.
  • Entering the room of a patient on contact precautions.

Limitations of Isolation Gowns

It's important to remember that isolation gowns are usually part of a larger set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and may not provide complete protection on their own. The level of protection depends on the type of gown and the specific infectious agent. Other PPE, such as gloves, masks, and eye protection, may be necessary depending on the situation and the mode of transmission of the infectious disease.

Conclusion: Investing in Workplace Safety

If you run a business where there is a risk of coming into contact with blood or other body fluids, then using isolation gowns is a smart decision that will help protect your employees and customers from potentially harmful pathogens while they carry out their duties.

Not only do these garments provide excellent protection against disease-causing organisms, but they are also easy to use and comfortable to wear while still providing reliable containment properties. Investing in these types of gowns is an easy way to improve the safety of your workplace and help prevent disease.