The Role Of PPE Gowns As The Standard Infection Control Precautions

To protect self is as important as protecting other people. That is what the health care providers also follow especially in such crucial covid times when the bacteria can easily transfer. Now the problem is so many people are not even aware of the PPE gowns and kits and what can be useful. Well, to prevent infection and control all possible measures, the PPE kit and gown can be of great help. It also helps in protecting against waste and hygiene management so that harmful materials don’t affect the human body.

Use of PPE in Standard Infection Control Precautions

There are different PPE tools and equipment such as PPE gowns, aprons, gloves, eye goggles, surgical masks, and respirator masks to name some which can be worn under the healthcare provider.

It is used in healthcare settings for creating a barrier between the healthcare worker and an infectious agent that the patient may be facing. This would lessen down the microorganism risk from the patients to get spread to workers or other people.

PPE can often be used by the family or visitor of the patient so they can offer direct care especially when the patient is entirely depending on someone else.

The PPE choice should entirely be based on the assessment of the risk of the potential exposure to body fluids and blood or even the infectious agents

This type of kit is usually available at the point where the acute healthcare settings and even community or staff needs to get training on the right use and PPE disposal as well.

The legal requirement for using the PPE:

The employers need to offer the right PPE set to the respective employees against the infection risks that are often related to the work. Often employees may have to ensure the work is done only if the right PPE gown is worn so that protection against possible exposure is possible.

Employers need to make sure all the accurate records are offered along with the training to use the PPE. Employees must attend such compulsory IPC training and understand how to use PPE

It is important to use PPE in the healthcare sector, especially aprons, gloves, and even goggles and long-sleeved gowns to name some. Initially the risk assessment of whether the PPE is needed is based on the transmission risk to and from the patient. Besides, there are also standard IPC precautions that are needed by the healthcare workers for all possible care of the surroundings and patients as well.

Safety and Health Controls Hierarchy

As per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the healthcare workers protection against infectious disease is extremely important especially when they are exposed in the workplace that needs a blend of controls such as:

Administrative and training controls:

By offering the right infection and safety control training to the healthcare experts and also the administrative controls like isolation policies to be established, identifying the patients with the communicable disease before there is exposure to the healthcare personnel.

Engineering controls:

This would include the negative pressure room for those patients who have been diagnosed with airborne diseases such as Tuberculosis

Work practice control:

This would be for those who are not recapping needles.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Even if PPE is at the end of the prevention hierarchy, it is extremely important to protect the healthcare workers against disease transmission.

The right time to use PPE:

PPE is mandatory to be used in different healthcare settings such as:

•       Long Term Care
•       Community Care
•       Acute Care
•       Outpatient Care

It is needed when there is contact established with the clients, residents, or even the patients. The environment of the PRC consists of the clinics, physiotherapy department, and even the room of the physiotherapy treatment in the long-term care facility

Conclusion:

It is important to consider certain factors that may influence using the PPE such as the right PPE that would be needed for a certain task. Suppose a PPE gown is needed and what type of gown would be needed. Also, other factors like fitting, durability, anticipated exposure type and whether to go for the whole suite or just to cover the head should be noted too.