Disposable Protective Apparel: Stitching a Safety Net for Healthcare Workers
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have shown incredible effort and dedication in taking care of patients. With such efforts comes a risk of infection too, which is a huge concern that requires to be catered.
Disposable protective apparel such as personal protective equipment (PPE) served to be a great prevention for healthcare staff. Especially for communicable disease exposure, disposable protective apparel specialized in clothing or equipment prevents contact with hazardous substances and infectious bacteria and viruses.
In this article, the importance of disposable protective apparel in the healthcare sector will be discussed broadly.
What is disposable protective apparel?
Disposable protective apparel is a single-use cover that aims to protect people from dust, heat, infectious molecules and particles, vapors, radiations, allergens, and other hazards and needs to be replaced frequently after usage. These are manufactured with extensive use of polymers by knitting or nonwoven technologies.
Disposable protective apparel has varied applications in various sectors, such as
healthcare, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, automotive, construction, oil and gas, and chemicals. Healthcare and automotive are amongst the most prominent end users of disposable protective apparel globally.
In healthcare sectors, disposable protective apparel serves as a critical element for prevention and protection, which is expanding rapidly. Moreover, growth in the disposable protective apparel market is witnessing increasing awareness among consumers who need personal safety. Disposable protective apparel, such as the manufacturing of breathable and heat-resistant apparel, is in high demand in the healthcare industry.
According to a report by BIS Research, the global disposable protective apparel market was valued at $2.41 billion in 2021, and it is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.1% and reach $4.35 billion by 2031.
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After the hit of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disposable protective apparel market has benefited a lot from the increased focus on stringent government rules and regulations by regulatory organizations in various countries.
What is the role of disposable protective apparel in the healthcare sector?
Disposable protective apparel has a wide application in the healthcare industry in protecting workers and patients from contaminants such as microorganisms. Moreover, disposable protective apparel is used to protect workers from liquids, gases or solid particulates, or heat. They serve an integral part of the healthcare industry in infection control and prevention measures to protect workers from exposure to bodily fluids, blood, and other potentially infectious materials.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PPE has played a highly advantageous role compared to other measures, such as engineering controls and work practices that cannot completely eliminate exposure, in reducing the transmission of communicable diseases.
Disposable protective apparel, including gowns, gloves, masks, and goggles, provide physical barriers that prevent the human body parts such as eyes, hands, skin, mouth, and nose from coming in contact with infectious agents. Since the 1960s, surgical gowns and drapes have been the exclusive use of woven fabrics providing protective function, physical and liquid-resistance qualities, and durability.
These apparel are made up of a variety of materials such as polypropylene, latex, polyester, polyethylene, and nitrile. The cost of these disposable protective apparel is directly linked with the raw material used while manufacturing. Governing agencies in various regions of the globe have tightened workplace safety regulations, making the healthcare sector one of the biggest users of disposable protective apparel.
What does disposable protective apparel include?
Disposable protective apparel includes common protective items that help healthcare workers to protect themselves from workplace hazards.
Following are some of these items:
Gloves: Clean and disposable gloves are necessary to be worn by doctors and other healthcare staff during direct contact with blood or body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, or any other potentially infectious material. These gloves are usually made of latex, vinyl, and nitrile materials and are generally advised for one-time use only.
Isolation Gowns: Isolation gowns come under standard and contact precautionary for the complete physical protection of health care workers. Generally, gowns are worn only if contact with blood/body fluids is expected. These gowns are disposable and usually worn during surgeries.
Surgical Masks: These masks cover the mouth and nose area and give protection from splashes or sprays of respiratory secretions, blood, and body fluids. Surgical masks are advised for both doctors and patients for better results and to reduce the dissemination of respiratory secretions.
Eye Protection: Eye protection includes goggles and face shields that are used to protect eyes from splashes or sprays of blood and body fluids. These goggles and face shields wrap around the sides of the face to protect the face and eyes from all angles. Thus, personal eyeglasses or contact lenses are not considered adequate during surgical operations for eye protection.
Conclusion
The disposable protective apparel market has witnessed enormous demand after the COVID-19 pandemic since surgical masks were made mandatory for each individual across the globe. Moreover, healthcare sectors required this apparel for daily purposes, which compelled manufacturing companies to further improve the quality as well as quantity of disposable protective apparel.
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