Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are infections that people contract when they are being treated for another health condition, while at a healthcare facility like a hospital. Although not every patient being treated at a healthcare facility will contract a HAI, reducing the spread of infection still remains a priority. Reducing the spread of infection begins with a rigorous infection control programme which includes several important measures such as identifying high-risk patients and areas, identifying where opportunity for contamination exists and how to minimise the risk of exposure within a hospital. Along with this, a hospital must also limit the risk of exposing staff and patients. A successful infection control programme must, therefore, include the appropriate PPE.
How to Prevent Contracting a Virus
A virus cannot live or spread without human interaction. Even if you have come into contact with a virus and managed to avoid infection does not mean that you are not a risk to others – humans host, carry and transmit viruses. High volumes of people pass through hospitals daily, so the first line of defense is ensuring that high-traffic areas and high-contact surfaces are sanitized regularly. The frequent washing of hands is also important in limiting the spread of viruses; however, this is not a foolproof solution. Limiting the spread of infection needs a number of control measures, including medical-grade PPE.
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How Medical-grade PPE Protects Against Viruses
Knowing the what, why, and how of your PPE will help ensure that the wearer is suitably protected: What PPE should I wear? Why must I wear it and how do I wear it properly so that it protects me? It is also important that the wearer understands the limitations of the PPE they are wearing, and that PPE is only one facet of a successful infection control programme.
The efficacy of PPE is dependent on a variety of factors, including the way in which the PPE is worn. Understanding how to don your PPE is just as important as wearing it in the first place. If protective garments are to do their job successfully, they must fit the wearer in the right manner. For example, a KN95 or FFP2 mask must create a seal around the nose and mouth that does not allow any respiratory droplets to enter or escape the mask. Understanding the protective qualities of the mask will inform the wearer on how to wear the mask properly. Just as knowing how to wear your PPE properly is important, knowing how to remove it is equally as important. Removing garments and PPE that have been exposed to harmful pathogens is a risk to the wearer, therefore it’s crucial that the wearer follows the prescribed steps when it comes to removing their PPE.
Any and all medical waste, including disposable PPE, is discarded into a medical waste container which is sent to a disposal facility. Disposable medical PPE is only effective for a very limited period of time, which means that the wearer will use several sets of disposable PPE on any given day. Disposable PPE is costly due to the number of garments used by each individual on a daily basis. Furthermore, the PPE also has to be disposed of in the correct manner which in itself is costly, especially given the number of disposable garments used on a day-to-day basis. Disposable medical PPE is predominantly made from a plastic derivative called spun-bond. Spun-bond fabric may prove quick and easy to produce, but it has a high environmental cost. Reusable fabric garments like coveralls, lab coats and scrubs have to be laundered daily because they may carry harmful pathogens and pose a risk to the wearer as well as anyone who comes into contact with the wearer. While reusable medical PPE is an eco-conscious and sustainable alternative to disposable PPE, it does little to physically halt the spread of pathogens. When the wearer comes into contact with a pathogen, that pathogen sits on the fabric until it is transferred to another surface or to a new host.
Get Your MEDI-SAFE® PPE From CHARNAUD® Today
Through rigorous research CHARNAUD® has identified and introduced MEDI-SAFE®, a new medical-grade fabric which is designed to stop the spread of pathogens and is ideal for use in any industry where the transmission of bacteria and viruses is a concern. MEDI-SAFE® garments are certified to a number of US standards including AATCC 124. What sets MEDI-SAFE® garments apart from other medical-grade PPE is the patented fabric technology which is embedded with coded receptors. The receptors in the fabric actively kill pathogens on contact. Not only does this halt the spread of viruses like Covid-19 but it also protects the wearer from infection. Due to the unique fabric technology, MEDI-SAFE® garments have an extended wear life compared with competing alternatives and proves to be a sustainable solution when it comes to medical-grade PPE. MEDI-SAFE® is suitable for anyone whose job requires them to come into close contact with people. Limiting the spread of infection is important in any workplace, and CHARNAUD® has a range of MEDI-SAFE® garments that offer protection from head to foot- visit our website today to view all of our PPE ranges.
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