healthcare textiles & laundry
By Gregory Gicewicz
Processing Reusable Gowns for Use by Healthcare Personnel
With this sudden rise in the use of reusable protective gowns for use by healthcare personnel , it is more imperative than ever that these gowns be processed according to the highest standards of infection prevention , quality , and safety ; and preferably in an accredited facility .
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In an earlier column , “ Navigating Our New
World of Reusable Protective Gowns for Use by Healthcare Personnel ,” we noted that COVID-19 has caused a dramatic switch from disposable to reusable protective gowns for use by healthcare personnel ( HCP ). Reusable gowns offer clear environmental advantages , superior performance and protection , financial benefits , and more predictable availability . Conversely , disposable gowns are discarded in our landfills after one use and typically do not employ local workers in their reprocessing . With this sudden rise in the use of reusable protective gowns for use by HCP , it is more important than ever that these gowns be processed according to the highest standards of infection prevention , quality , and safety ; and preferably in an accredited facility .
Different Requirements
Reusable protective gowns typically have more rigorous processing requirements than bulk healthcare linen items such as sheets , blankets , terry , and patient gowns . Most are more expensive since they are constructed of high-tech materials and manufactured under rigorous manufacturing practices . They are normally more susceptible to damage from improper processing in the washer or dryer . In addition to the normal hygiene cleanliness processing standards that hold for all healthcare textiles , reusable protective gowns must retain their wearer protective properties even after a specified number of uses and processing cycles . If processed incorrectly , they will lose their protective properties , exposing the wearer to risks of infection .
The following seeks to inform healthcare practitioners on how to process reusable protective gowns for use by HCP . We will address all processing steps including soil sorting , washing , drying , inspecting , folding and pack building ( if required ), sterilization ( if required ), labeling , and finally distribution . We will address processing requirements for a range of reusable protective gowns from Level 1 isolation gowns to Level 4 sterile surgical reusable gown packs .
Soil Sort
To reiterate , reusable protective gowns have unique processing requirements and therefore must be handled separately from other textile items . The
gowns should arrive at the laundry in protective bags , either pre-sorted or mixed with other healthcare textiles ( HCT ). The first step is to sort them separately from all other textiles . Levels 2 , 3 , and 4 surgical gowns can be sorted together . Isolation gowns can also be sorted together . But these items should never be mixed with other HCT such as sheets , blankets , towels , or microfiber cleaning products . It is important during the soil sort operation to remove all items that are not reusable protective gowns . Foreign items such as sharp medical instruments , adhesive tapes , soiled rags , garbage , pens , and pharmaceuticals will cause expensive damage to reusable protective gowns . Needless to say , it is more economical to catch these items in the sort than to catch the damage farther downstream during inspections . It is even more expensive if the damaged gowns find their way to a healthcare practitioner .
The Wash Process
Accurate washing of reusable protective gowns ensures that they maintain their protective properties ,