Donning Gloves Before Surgical Gown Eliminates Sleeve Contamination

William A. Byrd; Joseph J. Kavolus; Colin T. Penrose; Samuel S. Wellman

doi:10.1016/j.arth.2019.01.015

The Influence of Different Plasma Cell Discharges on the Performance Quality of Surgical Gown Samples

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14154329 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 4329

Author(s):

Atif H. Asghar ◽

Ahmed Rida Galaly

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Exposure Time ◽

Electrical Characteristics ◽

Cathode Fall ◽

Treatment Efficiency ◽

Performance Quality ◽

Surgical Gown ◽

The One

An experimental study was performed on a low-density plasma discharge using two different configurations of the plasma cell cathode, namely, the one mesh system electrodes (OMSE) and the one mesh and three system electrodes (OMTSE), to determine the electrical characteristics of the plasma such as current–voltage characteristics, breakdown voltage (VB), Paschen curves, current density (J), cathode fall thickness (dc), and electron density of the treated sample. The influence of the electrical characteristics of the plasma fluid in the cathode fall region for different cathode configuration cells (OMSE and OMTSE) on the performance quality of a surgical gown was studied to determine surface modification, treatment efficiency, exposure time, wettability property, and mechanical properties. Over a very short exposure time, the treatment efficiency for the surgical gown surface of plasma over the mesh cathode at a distance equivalent to the cathode fall distance dc values of the OMTSE and for OMSE reached a maximum. The wettability property decreased from 90 to 40% for OMTSE over a 180 s exposure time and decreased from 90 to 10% for OMSE over a 160 s exposure time. The mechanisms of each stage of surgical gown treatment by plasma are described. In this study, the mechanical properties of the untreated and treated surgical gown samples such as the tensile strength and elongation percentage, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, strain hardening, resilience, toughness, and fracture (breaking) point were studied. Plasma had a more positive effect on the mechanical properties of the OMSE reactor than those of the OMTSE reactor.

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Physiological Evaluation of Personal Protective Ensembles Recommended for Use in West Africa

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2017.13 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 580-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Aitor Coca ◽

Tyler Quinn ◽

Jung-Hyun Kim ◽

Tianzhou Wu ◽

Jeff Powell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

West Africa ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Continuous Light ◽

Subjective Responses ◽

Subjective Perceptions ◽

Human Contact ◽

Care Workers ◽

Surgical Gown ◽

Physiological Evaluation

ABSTRACTObjectivePersonal protective equipment (PPE) provides health care workers with a barrier to prevent human contact with viruses like Ebola and potential transmission of the disease. However, PPE can also introduce an additional physiological burden from potentially increased heat stress. This study evaluated the human physiological and subjective responses to continuous light exercise within environmental conditions similar to those in West Africa while wearing 3 different, commonly used PPE ensembles (E1, E2, and E3).MethodsSix healthy individuals were tested in an environmental chamber (32°C, 92% relative humidity) while walking (3 METs, 2.5 mph, 0% incline) on a treadmill for 60 minutes. All subjects wore medical scrubs and PPE items. E1 also had a face shield and fluid-resistant surgical gown; E2 additionally included goggles, coverall, and separate hood; and E3 also contained a highly impermeable coverall, separate hood, and surgical mask cover over the N95 respirator.ResultsHeart rate and core temperature at the end of the exercise were significantly higher for E2 and E3 than for E1. Subjective perceptions of heat and exertion were significantly higher for E2 and E3 than for E1.ConclusionsHeat stress and PPE training, as well as the implementation of a work-to-rest ratio that avoids dehydration and possible heat stress issues, are recommended. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:580–586)

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