During surgery, sterile surgical drapes are used to prevent contact with unprepared surfaces and to maintain sterility of patient surfaces, equipment, and the surrounding environment. With a reusable system, wound infections were 2.5 times more likely than with a single-use system. The results of the study show that the use of disposable gauze not only significantly reduces wound infection rates, but also provides significant cost savings.
During surgery, if the barrier material becomes wet, the risk of pathogen transmission increases. Therefore, multiple or disposable materials used during surgery must be impervious to fluid penetration.
Reusable materials typically include various compact woven textiles and/or knitted cotton or other fabrics that may be combined with polyester and/or chemically treated. Reusable products have reduced protection and durability after multiple cycles of processing and handling. The barrier protection provided by reusable drapes can also get wet during surgery.
Typically, disposable surgical drapes are non-woven fabrics made of various polymers and possibly combined with chemical treatments. Since single-use surgical drapes play a vital role in reducing/eliminating surgical site infections (SSIs), a thorough risk analysis of single-use surgical drapes to determine their suitability for each procedure is critical important.
Disposable surgical drape design provides impact resistance and prevents liquid splash/spray on the fabric. They are also lint-free and scratch resistant. Disposable drapes provide continuous and reliable adherence to the skin or wound edges, providing a barrier to skin bacteria, especially when contracted forcefully and flushed. Barrier efficacy is an important factor in preventing infection, so fluid control features not only reduce exposure to potentially infectious bodily fluids, but also keep patients dry, which can help reduce turnaround time between procedures. Single-use single-use built-in bag helps collect body fluids and blood for easy clean-up and disposal.
The material of the disposable surgical drape is made of refractory material, which can resist fire in oxygen-rich environments such as operating rooms. Surgeons always prefer the best quality disposable gauze because it is soft to both the patient and the operating staff. Premium quality disposable surgical drapes provide strength and comfort and are available in different fabrics such as Spunlace, SMMMS and Trilaminate. Therefore, the use of disposable surgical gauze greatly reduces the likelihood of infection through SSI.
