The ability to resist fluid penetration was measured in body fabric and forearm seams of standard and reinforced non-woven disposable theatre gowns. Six standard use, non-woven gowns showed water strike-through in the body area at pressures ranging between 12.1 +/- 0.8 cmH2O and 23.2 +/- 2.2 cmH2O (means +/- 95% confidence interval). Two products resisted fluid penetration of the forearm seam at pressures similar to that of the fabric alone (16.8 +/- 1.0 cmH2O and 18.6 +/- 0.9 cmH2O respectively) but other standard gowns leaked at significantly lower pressures (range 4.6-6.9 cmH2O). (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). Six of seven high-protection gowns proved fluid resistant at a pressure in excess of 50 cm in the reinforced body zone but four reinforced gowns leaked at stitched arm seams at a pressure of less than 10 cmH2O despite an inner impermeable layer of fabric covering the forearm. Three gowns with heat or adhesive sealed reinforced arm seams resisted fluid penetration up to a pressure of 50 cmH2O. Standard gowns and some reinforced gowns do not offer full protection against forearm contamination through stitched seams. A gown with sealed seams and impermeable fabric should be chosen for high-risk cases.
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