Understanding the Different Types of Medical Gowns
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Understanding the Different Types of Medical Gowns
Often referred to as an isolation gown, procedural gown, or similar term, medical gowns are essential pieces of personal protection equipment that provide a barrier against infectious materials and protect the wearer from infection or illness.
In this article we will cover:
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What's the difference between a patient gown and a medical gown?
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What are medical gowns used for?
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When should I wear a medical gown?
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What are the available standards for medical gowns?
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What are the ANSI/AAMI PB70 guidelines for medical gowns?
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Level 4
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What are USP 800 guidelines for medical gowns?
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How to select the right medical gown
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What are the different types of medical gowns?
What's the Difference Between a Patient Gown and a Medical Gown?
Unlike gowns worn by medical professionals, patient gowns are not designed for protection but rather to provide proper patient access at the time of examination or procedure.
Patient Exam Gown
Dukal's dark blue spunbonded polypropylene disposable patient gowns feature a tie waist for an adjustable fit and can be worn with the opening in the front or back based on patient and physician need.
What Are Medical Gowns Used For?
Medical gowns are part of an overall health care infection-control strategy. Medical gowns, categorized under personal protective equipment, protect the wearer from the spread of infection or illness, creating a barrier against potentially infectious material.
When working with vulnerable patients, gowns can also prevent the wearer from transferring harmful microorganisms.
When should I wear a medical gown?3
A gown should be worn during procedures, and patient care activities when contact of clothing and/or exposed skin with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions is anticipated.
Available Standards for Medical Gowns
Understanding the ANSI/AAMI PB70 guidelines for medical gowns
Beginning in 2004, the FDA, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) introduced ANSI/AAMI PB70, the required standard for medical gowns used in healthcare facilities. These standards ensure medical gowns meet specific standards in liquid barrier performance and classify gowns as protective apparel. The ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard has four levels of fluid barrier protection, with Level 1 being the lowest level of protection and Level 4 being the highest.
What are USP 800 guidelines for medical gowns?2
USP 800 guidelines describe practice and quality standards for handling hazardous drugs to promote patient safety, worker safety, and environmental protection. Under USP 800 guidelines, medical gowns used when handling hazardous drugs, for example those used during chemotherapy administration, must be made of polyethylene-coated polypropylene or other laminate material. Gowns must close in the back (i.e., no open front), be long-sleeved, and have elastic or knit closed cuffs.
How to Select the Right Medical Gown
The CDC recommends reviewing the following criteria when selecting PPE in general3:
- Type of anticipated exposure: Touch, splashes, sprays, or large volumes of blood or body fluids that may penetrate clothing, as well as the category of isolation precautions a patient is on.
- Durability and suitability for the task: Understanding suitability will affect whether a gown or apron is selected for PPE and whether it needs to be fluid-resistant, fluid-proof, or neither.
- Fit: PPE must fit the individual user; it is critical to have employers provide appropriate sizes for their workforce.
The CDC recommends the following criteria when selecting medical gowns3:
- Intended use: If contamination of the arms can be anticipated, a gown should be selected.
- Material properties of the gown: Cotton and synthetic isolation gowns vary in level of fluid resistance. If fluid penetration is likely, a fluid-resistant gown should be used.
- Patient risks: Medical gowns are generally used for isolation; a sterile gown may be necessary when performing specific invasive procedures.
It’s essential to recognize that medical gown names are not standardized across the industry; knowing the difference between the levels is essential to ensure proper protection.3
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI): ANSI/AAMI PB70:2012 as follows:
- Level 1: Minimal risk, to be used, for example, during basic care, standard isolation, cover gown for visitors, or in a standard medical unit. View Dukal’s Level 1 gowns
- Level 2: Low risk, to be used, for example, during blood draw, suturing, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or a pathology lab. View Dukal’s Level 2 gowns
- Level 3: Moderate risk, to be used, for example, during arterial blood draw, inserting an intravenous (IV) line, in the emergency room, or for trauma cases
- Level 4: High risk, to be used, for example, during lengthy, fluid intense procedures, surgery, when pathogen resistance is needed, or infectious diseases are suspected (non-airborne)
Additional gown considerations:
Medical gown cuff options
- Elastic
- Knit
- Thumbloop
- Elastic wrist with thumb loop to provide a more secure fit under gloves
Medical gown closure options
- Tape tab neck
- Dukal's proprietary over-the-head design: Offers wearers three sonic sealed closures at the neck, providing the wearer with a secure neck closure with ease of removal, reducing the risk of cross-contamination
- Tie neck
- Waist tie
- Tie back
Medical gown material options
- Spunbonded polypropylene
- Spunbonded polypropylene with a polyethylene coating
- SMS
- PE film
What is SMS?
A multi-layer fabric composed of inner layers of melt-blown polypropylene between outer layers of spunbonded polypropylene provides water-resistance while remaining breathable.
Different Types of Medical Gowns
- Isolation Gown
Made of high-quality spunbonded polypropylene, Dukal’s isolation gowns are available in elastic cuff and knit cuff options.
- Poly Coated Isolation Gown
Made of spunbound polypropylene with a polyethylene coating, each gown features elastic cuffs with waist and neck tie closures.
- Level 1 Isolation Gown
Appropriate for basic care, standard isolation, cover gown for visitors, or in a standard medical unit, Dukal’s Level 1 Isolation Gown features an elastic wrist with thumb loop, tape tab neck, and provides a slight barrier against a small amount of liquid penetration.
- Level 2 Isolation Gown
Appropriate for blood draw, suturing, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or a pathology lab, Dukal’s Level 2 Isolation Gown features an elastic wrist with thumb loop, proprietary over-the-head design with easy tear-away removal, and provides a slight barrier against a small amount of liquid penetration.
- Multi-Layer Isolation Gown
Made of quality multi-layer SMS material for enhanced protection, Dukal’s Multi-Layer Isolation Gown features elastic wrists with waist tie and neck closures to provide full coverage.
- Chemotherapy Gown
Made of SMS material to provide enhanced protection, Dukal’s Chemotherapy Gown was tested to ASTM F739-12 and passed for 16 chemotherapy drugs and features hook and loop neck closure and waist ties for a secure fit.
- Protective Cover Gown
Over the head protective gown with thumb loop provides enhanced fluid protection with tear-away design for quick removal.