How Custom Workwear Can Support Infection Prevention Protocols in Hospital Environments

By Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms

Did you know that according to the National Library of Medicine, everyday healthcare apparel is usually contaminated with pathogens and microorganisms? These pathogens can cause different types of diseases ranging from vancomycin-resistant bacteria (VRE) to Clostridioides.

vancomycin-resistant bacteria affect the bloodstream and urinary tract system. It can survive for days on dry surfaces, including standard hospital gear. Similarly, Clostridioides can survive in standard fabrics for a long time. If the clothing is not properly disinfected, the disease can cause diarrhea, fever, and gastrointestinal issues.

This article discusses custom workwear that prevents infections, features, and industry standards to consider before purchasing.

Essential Features of Infection-Control Workwear
In healthcare environments, the first line of defense is your workwear. The right pair of scrubs is crucial in ensuring disease does not spread from one patient to another. In addition, it protects both the patient and doctor by creating a strong, protective barrier.

For hospital workwear to be effective, it must meet several specific performance criteria regarding material used, durability, and design. One essential feature worth mentioning is the fabric technology used.

Fabric Technology and Antimicrobial Properties
The best infection-control workwear is engineered to prevent the transmission of pathogens from one place to another. Since transmission mostly happens because the pathogens can attach themselves to the attire, good workwear must make this impossible.

Good workwear is made from antimicrobial fabrics. These fabrics are treated with agents such as copper compounds and silver ions. The agents disrupt the microbial cell membrane and destroy the bacteria.

Antimicrobial fabrics have been proven to reduce the survival rate of bacteria on textiles, making them ideal for hospital workers.

Fabric technology also incorporates the use of fluid-repellent fabrics. These fabrics help reduce infections from contaminated liquids. They are made from materials such as polyester-cotton blends with hydrophobic coatings. They can prevent infections from blood, urine, and saliva. These fabrics are ideal for surgical theaters, emergency departments, and ICU isolation wards.

Design Considerations
The design is just as important as the material. Infection-control workwear should incorporate several designs, such as seams, to reduce crevices that can harbor pathogens.

In addition, healthcare workwear should be easy to remove without the nurses and doctors touching contaminated outer layers. It is also essential to have color-coded uniforms to prevent cross-use across sterile and non-sterile areas.

Lastly, good infection-control workwear should be durable and have good washability properties. They must also be able to withstand high washing temperatures.

Adhering to Compliance and Industry Standards
By law, hospitals must adhere to various regulatory standards for health and safety. One of these standards is the use of proper PPE.

For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration {OSHA} requires hospitals to provide proper workwear for their doctors and nurses. Hospitals must perform a hazard assessment of the workplace and purchase the workwear at no cost to the employee.

Similarly, standard 1910.132 {a} requires protective clothing to be used and maintained in sanitary and reliable conditions.

Apart from purchasing and using hospital workwear, other standards guide hospitals in choosing suitable PPEs. For example, according to the CDC, hospital workers are at risk of contracting various diseases such as Hepatitis and Ebola. Therefore, they must be provided with protective clothing that protects them from these diseases.

The CDC has also expanded its guidelines to include factors such as the type of fabric to use and its permeable properties.

Aligning Procurement with Facility Infection Control Programs
Effective infection control requires collaboration between procurement heads and infection control teams. This way, the right workwear will be purchased. Infection teams are better conversant with industry best practices and standards.

In addition, the infection control teams should also engage in staff training to ensure that the procured PPE is appropriately used and washed.

Operational and Institutional Benefits of Using Custom Workwear
There are several operational benefits to using custom workwear to prevent infection in medical facilities. One main advantage is that custom workwear boosts morale and creates a sense of team identity. Similarly, Increased morale increases productivity, which benefits the medical facility.

In addition, using custom workwear is cost-effective in the long run. This is because high-quality materials reduce the risk of infections, meaning employees remain productive throughout. Also, using custom workwear that meets compliance and industry standards protects the facility from lawsuits.

Lastly, custom workwear creates a safe and healthy working environment for doctors and patients. This is because custom workwear can be designed to address specific health challenges affecting the institution.

In conclusion, custom workwear is key in enhancing infection prevention protocols in medical facilities. Government organizations such as OSHA have developed protocols for purchasing custom workwear and determining how to maintain it.

Lastly, Medical facilities must provide PPEs to their employees free of charge. When custom workwear is offered to employees, it boosts morale and helps reduce the probability of the facility being sued.

About: Nick Warrick - Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms

Nick Warrick Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with over 100 clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor?s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Warrick revamped the company?s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.