Reusable gowns may beat disposables: AJIC study

Infection control professionals often recommend reusable personal protective equipment during surge capacity situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in part because of shortages of disposables.

A new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control concluded that adopting reusable gowns may result in increased protection and significant cost savings due to their superior durability and sustainability when compared with disposable gowns.

The research evaluated the performance of disposable versus reusable medical gowns by assessing their ability to provide adequate protection across their expected service lifespan.

Responding to the study, Unitex noted reusables provide more durability, were unaffected by commercial laundry processing in terms of protection and performance, had lower environmental impact and have been endorsed by the federal government.

Thermal disinfection advised for hygienically clean laundry

With older adults being one of the most at-risk populations for COVID-19, long-term care facilities must go the extra mile to protect the health and well-being of residents and the staff members providing their care, according to Paulo Rocha, a sales executive at Miele Professional/USA.

“It’s no surprise the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for hygienic best practices around the globe,” he added.

Hygienic cleanliness is enabled by a combination of several factors that involve the environment, process and handling. Key elements of the laundering process include physical agitation, a chemical or detergent treatment, thermal immersive hot water and a time specification. For textiles that can’t withstand maximum 160° F temperatures or 25-minute duration, chemical/thermal disinfection can be used.

Rocha said today’s washing machines should feature high temperature disinfection programs, which are ideal for long-term care environments.