Evaluation of Surgical Gown Textiles for Resistance Against Aerosols: A Preclinical Double-Blind Study

Abstract

Personal protective equipment is used to prevent healthcare workers from contaminants. With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, the use of effective PPE becomes more critical to avoiding infection by SARS-CoV-2. This preclinical double-blind study evaluated the performance of surgical gown textiles for penetration resistance against aerosols. The different textiles were divided into seven groups: (1) SMS PP OE Phobic; (2) Laminated Phobic; (3) Medical Barrier; (4) Trilayer Fabric; (5) Impermeable gown; (6) Impermeable with heat sealing tape; and (7) Clean Wear. All groups were exposed to aerosol-generating procedure for 5 min, according to Barboza et al. 2020. All measurements were recorded and exported to a datasheet for analysis using SPSS software. The groups showed significant differences (p < 0.01). Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 proved to be effective barriers against aerosols and presented a constant behavior. Groups 1 and 7 showed pigmented areas of 13.05 and 48.23%, respectively, suggesting that, in the present test model, these water-repellent and antimicrobial fabrics were not effective barriers against 5-min aerosols generated by a high-speed dental handpiece. Polyethylene or polyurethane laminated fabrics were efficient against 5-min aerosols. The SMS textile, globally used for surgical gowns, and the cotton fabric, impregnated with nanoparticles, were not effective barriers. The breathability and comfort of these textiles should be tested in future studies. Healthcare workers should be aware of the exact specifications of their surgical gown textiles.