PPE is ubiquitous in the medical and surgical field. You have a supply closet full of it, of course. But do you have the right PPE, providing the right protection, to stop the spread of the worst pathogens?
According to public health experts, with the rise of superbugs nationwide and another pandemic “only a matter of time,” now is the time to invest in premium PPE to protect your healthcare workers, patients, and reputation. When we use better quality PPE, we better protect people’s lives. We make healthcare safer for everyone.
And isn’t that why you got into this industry in the first place?
Common Infection Control Challenges
Infection control is a big concern for hospitals, surgical centers, and healthcare clinics. One main challenge is hand hygiene. Studies show that around 40% of healthcare workers don’t wash their hands properly (Paltiel et al., 2020). This can spread germs and cause infections. While disposable medical protective clothing doesn’t directly influence adherence to hand hygiene protocol, it can minimize the damage:
- Disposable patient transfer sheets keep blood, fluids, and other biological matter away from touch surfaces and don’t require a nurse to touch a board to sanitize it, possibly cross-contaminating the board.
- Disposable medical apparel like booties, leggings, pant protectors, and jumpsuits, when properly donned and doffed, cut down on the possibility of a healthcare worker touching dangerous blood or bodily fluid with their hands in the first place.
Another common challenge is cleaning surfaces. High-touch areas, like patient transfer boards, doorknobs, and counters, need regular cleaning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that proper disinfection can reduce the spread of infections by 80%. Unfortunately, with most healthcare facilities understaffed, your team could be rushing through proper disinfection protocol and not even realize it. Naturally, disposable medical apparel and patient transfer sheets help cut down on the number of surfaces that actually need to be sanitized.
In addition, all hospitals now face challenges with antibiotic resistance. Many patients get infections that don’t respond to standard treatments, and this problem worsens when antibiotics are overused in healthcare settings. According to the CDC, about 2 million people get infections from antibiotic-resistant germs each year. The best way to get control over these “superbugs” is to halt their spread. Premium PPE and disposable medical apparel can help.
The Impact of Healthcare-Acquired Infections
Healthcare-acquired infections, also known as hospital-acquired infections, or healthcare-associated infections and HAIs, can severely affect hospitals, staff, and patients. These infections occur when patients get sick while being treated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 31 hospital patients has at least one HAI, especially those who have spent time in intensive care units. This statistic shows how common these infections really are.
HAIs lower patient safety. They can lead to complications and longer recovery times. In some cases, HAIs impact the patient mortality rate – tragic outcomes that no one wants. For healthcare workers, these infections create extra stress. They must take extra precautions to prevent the spread of germs and protect themselves and their patients.
These infectious diseases also hurt a hospital’s reputation. If patients hear about high rates of HAIs, they may choose another hospital. This loss can impact funding and staff morale.
Yes, premium PPE may cost a bit more per unit. Your staff and patients are worth it, and your facility’s reputation may depend on it.
How Premium PPE Better Supports Your Infection Prevention Strategies
Infection prevention is crucial for keeping everyone safe, especially in healthcare facilities. Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, plays a big role in these efforts. Premium PPE is designed to provide better protection against germs and viruses. It’s made with high-quality materials and advanced technology. This means it can help prevent the spread of infections more effectively than standard equipment. Studies show that proper use of PPE can reduce infection rates by up to 70% in healthcare facilities (CDC).
Using premium PPE can also improve comfort and fit. This means staff can wear it for longer periods without discomfort. For example, a healthcare worker wearing a well-fitting mask is less likely to touch their face. This simple action can greatly reduce the risk of infection.
Additionally, premium PPE often comes with extra features, like fluid resistance and breathability. These features make it easier for workers to do their jobs without compromising safety.
Here’s how Sloan Medical’s premium PPE supports your hospital’s infection control protocols:
Protects Staff & Patients With Impermeable Materials
Sloan Medical’s STA-DRI and ezGLIDE personal protective equipment (PPE) keep staff and patients safe. Both lines use impermeable materials that block liquids and contaminants, helping to stop the spread of germs and diseases.
For example, all STA-DRI products are made from our fluid-impervious 2 ml polyethylene blend. In a hospital setting, impermeability is crucial when performing care or procedures with any risk of blood or bodily fluid contact. Studies show that with the right protective gear, infections can drop by 30% (CDC, 2022). This means less sickness for both patients and staff.
Moreover, these premium PPE items feature heat-sealed seams. This technology makes the seams stronger and more reliable, and it prevents leaks better than traditional stitched seams. As a result, staff can focus on their work without worrying about exposure.
Last, but certainly not least, all Sloan Medical products have been tested against the ASTM-F1671 standard for fluid impermeability and have passed. This independent testing means that you can trust the materials we’ve chosen to protect you and your patients.
Increases Environmental Cleanliness
You know the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” That’s the idea here—keeping fluids, blood, and all other biological material with the patient and away from everything else is key to infection control. If you can avoid environmental contamination to begin with, the rest of your infection control plan will be more effective.
Sloan Medical’s ezGLIDE patient transfer sheets and STA DRI mattress sheets play a vital role in keeping hospital environments clean. These products help contain biological materials, like blood and fluids, during patient transfers, when a patient is on a procedure surface, or in a recovery room. This reduces the risk of contamination for hospital staff and other surfaces.
When a patient needs to be moved, the ezGLIDE sheet makes it easy. Staff can slide the patient safely without touching any fluids. This keeps the area around the patient cleaner. For example, a study from the Journal of Hospital Infection found that using specialized transfer sheets can lower the spread of germs by up to 50% (Gould et al., 2020).
The mattress covers also play an essential role. They trap any debris and fluids, preventing them from leaking onto other surfaces. This means less time cleaning and a safer environment for everyone. Overall, using these products increases environmental cleanliness and prevents avoidable environmental contamination. Hospitals can focus more on patient care and less on cleaning up messy accidents.
Encourages Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Sloan’s STA-DRI line makes it easy to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). These lightweight and durable items reduce the risk of ripping and tearing. The one-size-fits-all design means anyone can wear them without hassle. This encourages consistent PPE use—there’s no need to sort through the supply cupboard to find the right size. Just grab, don, and go.
One great feature of the STA-DRI is ventilation. Our jumpsuits, aprons, and other body covers are designed with strategic ventilation that keeps users cool and comfortable without sacrificing fluid impermeability. For example, our pant protectors and jumpsuits have open backs to promote air circulation. Users can stay focused on their tasks without feeling restricted or overheated.
Sloan’s STA-DRI line also offers buildable protection. It starts with disposable shoe covers, then moves up to pant protectors, aprons, and even full jumpsuits. This flexibility means people can choose the right level of protection for their work. According to a study by the CDC, proper PPE use can reduce exposure to harmful substances by over 90%. When PPE is comfortable, customizable, and easy to use, workers are more likely to wear it.
Sloan Medical is Here to Help With Your Infection Control Challenges
Infection control has been a challenge for medical professionals for hundreds of years. Since the 1600s, when Robert Hooke and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovered and described mold and bacteria, doctors and scientists have been trying to figure out how to keep pathogens away from patients.
While we haven’t been around quite that long, we have been committed to protecting every healthcare professional and their patients from the threat of bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids for over 40 years. Our PPE is designed by surgeons, for surgeons, and we take pride in producing truly impervious and slip-resistant ISO medical-grade covers, tested with the highest quality protection against fluids and contaminants. Sloan Medical is confident that if you try our products, you’ll never go back. So, before you go, claim your free STA-DRI and ezGLIDE samples and see the difference for yourself.
