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The effect of surgical gowns made with barrier cloth on bacterial dispersal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

Julie Matthews ,
K. Slater  and
S. W. B. Newsom
Julie Matthews
Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
K. Slater
Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
S. W. B. Newsom*
Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
*
Dr S. W. B. Newsom, Department of Microbiology, Papworth Hospital, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB3 8RE.
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Summary

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A dispersal chamber (body box) technique has been used to compare bacterial dispersal from the skin of subjects carrying out a stepping test under controlled conditions while wearing four differing garment systems namely:

(a) basic underwear, cotton ‘blues’ (standard pyjama style jacket and trousers for men or dress for women), ankle socks, boots for men and shoes for women, mask and theatre hat; (b) the basic set covered with a cotton gown; (c) the basic set covered by a gown with a front made from GORE-TEX fabric in which an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is sandwiched between layers of woven or knitted polyester; (d) the basic set covered with a fully enclosed suit of the same fabric.

A slit sampler was used to measure the number of bacteria liberated in a downward current of air. Six subjects (three female and three male) were studied. Males liberated more bacteria. Covering the ‘blues’ with a cotton gown increased the bacterial count; a gown of the new material reduced the increase by 50%, and the suit cut the dispersal to virtually zero.

Preliminary work suggests that GORE-TEX garments survive laundering better than cotton, and may be cost-effective, but are not yet as comfortable. Research is presently in progress to improve this aspect.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 95 , Issue 1 , August 1985 , pp. 123 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

References

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