An Environmental Analysis of Reusable and Disposable Surgical Gowns.

Surgical gowns help protect patients from exposure to microorganisms and serve as personal protective equipment for perioperative staff members. Medical textiles, including surgical gowns, are available as reusable and disposable products. Health care facility administrators and leaders who endeavor to use environmentally sustainable practices require current data for decision making. This study analyzed all activities from the extraction of fossil materials from the earth to the end-of-life disposal of reusable and disposable surgical gowns. The researchers included calculations for laundry and wastewater treatment operations and compared the environmental effects of the two surgical gown systems. The study results showed that selection of reusable gowns rather than disposable gowns reduced natural resource energy consumption (64%), greenhouse gas emissions (66%), blue water consumption (83%), and solid waste generation (84%). Perioperative nurses can use this information to assist facility leaders as they make informed decisions related to gown system selection.

Contamination rate of the surgical gowns during total hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical instrument contamination during total joint replacement is a matter of major concern. Available recommendations suggest changing suction tips, gloves and avoiding light handle manipulation during the procedure. There is a paucity of data regarding surgical gown contamination. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contamination rate of surgical gowns (SGs) during total hip arthroplasty (THA) and secondarily compare it with other orthopedic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty surgical gowns (from 70 surgeries) were screened for bacterial contamination using thioglycolate (a high-sensitivity culture broth). The THA contamination rate was compared with those of knee and spine procedures. Controls were obtained at the beginning of every surgery and from the culture broth. The procedure's duration and the level of training of the surgeon were evaluated as potential risk factors for contamination. RESULTS: Bacterial contamination was identified on 12% of surgical gowns (22% of surgical procedures). The contamination rate during THA was 4.1% (2% in primary THA and 8.3% in revisions) vs 21.67% during other surgeries (spine and knee) (OR 6.15, p = 0.012). There were no contaminated SGs during THAs performed in ≤ 2 h (0/33 SGs) vs 7.5% (3/40) for THAs that took ≥ 2 h (p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: There was a high rate of SG contamination during orthopedic procedures that was higher during non-arthroplasty procedures and prolonged THAs. There were no contaminated surgical gowns in THAs under 120 min, efforts should point keeping primary THAs under this cutoff time. As a general recommendation, SGs should be changed every time there is concern about potential contamination.

[Effect of a surgical mask on six minute walking distance]. / Effet du port d'un masque de soins lors d'un test de marche de six minutes chez des sujets sains.

INTRODUCTION: Six minutes walking test (6MWT) is regularly used in pulmonology. To minimize the risk of cross-infection, some patients must wear surgical mask at rest and sometimes during exercise. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the effect of wearing a surgical mask during 6MWT in healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: It is a prospective study on 44 healthy subjects. After a first 6MWT for training, they performed randomly two 6MWT: with or without a surgical mask. Distance and dyspnea, heart rate and saturation variations were recorded. RESULTS: Distance was not modified by the mask (P=0.99). Dyspnea variation was significantly higher with surgical mask (+5.6 vs. +4.6; P<0.001) and the difference was clinically relevant. No difference was found for the variation of other parameters. CONCLUSION: Wearing a surgical mask modifies significantly and clinically dyspnea without influencing walked distance.