Isolation Gown 

Isolation gownsare the outer clothing meant for personal guard mainly used as protective equipment in health care settings. In the isolation wards or ICUs, patients are worn to protect themselves and others from the spread of infection since the wearer may come in contact with potentially infectious liquid or solid materials in hospitals. Theses isolation gowns help prevent the wearers from transferring micro-organisms that could harm vulnerable patients or those with weak immune systems or those doctors, nurses and other medical staff who visit them.

In health care or hospital setting, there are many items and implements such as gowns, towels, drapes, masks, sheets and blankets are of primary uses. These items are made of fine textile materials. Isolation gown is one such wear that is used for patients kept in isolation and their attendants or relatives who visit them. These gowns are very appropriate wears against bacterial and fungal growth with suitable moisture and temperature. Research studies have shown that isolation gowns play an important role in infection prevention and spread since they tend to stop the dissemination of microorganisms through isolation gowns.

Features of Isolation Gowns:

The main performance feature of an isolation gown is its effectiveness in offering the compact level of protection against penetration of liquids and microorganisms that could cause serious infections to patients or wearers. Isolation gowns are most effective in preventing the microbial barrier that can be wet and dry and that may penetrate microorganisms. Some of the special features of isolation gowns are abrasion resistance, strength, softness, stain resistance, flammability, breathability, propensity for lighting and electrostatic charge, pilling, toxicity, sizing, and colour. We must know that isolation gowns do not provide non-stop whole-body protection since they contain openings in the back, coverage to the mid-calf only.

Uses of Isolation Gown:

Isolation gowns are the preferred personal protective equipment (PPE) clothing.  Isolation gowns are mainly used in hospital or clinical settings to prevent cross-transmission and the risk of disease spread to patients and health care workers. Several studies have shown that isolation gowns offer an effective barrier against the spread and transformation of infections from one source to another. Post-COVID-19, the use an application of isolation gowns have increased manifold for the purpose of PPE.

Reusable versus Disposable Isolation Gowns:

The advancement in medical and health care industry has paved the way for manufacturing both reusable and disposable isolation gowns. The isolation gowns are fabricated from either reusable for multiuse or disposable for single use materials. The two types of isolations gowns carry both advantages and disadvantages in terms of protection, maintenance, comfort, cost, and environmental impact. Disposable isolation gowns are designed to be thrown after a single use while reusable isolation gowns are laundered after each use. While reusable isolation gowns are made of 100% cotton, 100% polyester, or polyester-cotton blends, disposable gowns non-woven materials or made with materials such as polypropylene, polyester, or polyethylene.