It is mandatory to maintain aseptic conditions during medical procedures. A sterile environment is the primitive choice of every healthcare professional. There is no compromise with the health and safety of the workers and patients. For this sake, the surgical gowns are considered as the foremost item for protection.
In the recent times, use of surgical gowns and drapes is a popular practice in the sphere of surgical techniques. It plays an important role in asepsis, reduces the chances for transfer of harmful microorganism from the skin of surgical team to the air in an operation theatre. The surgical gowns and other clothing not only keeps the bacteria away from entering the surgical wounds but protects the other relates surgical staff from any kind of contaminations from blood urine, saline or other bodily fluids and chemicals. The transfer of harmful microbes is restricted because of the impermeable areas and edges in the gowns. Until 1800s, the use of these surgical gowns was not in common. Those were the times when surgeries were conducted in auditoriums and the procedure took place in the centre surrounded by the audience. Surgeons at that period simply wore their street clothes and often something was pulled upon as a butcher’s apron to safeguard their clothes from stains. It was a casual deal as the equipments used were non-sterile and the procedures were initiated bare-handily. It was due to the pioneering research of Joseph Lister who used carbolic aid to sterilize the surgical instruments, incisions and dressing material for the first time. Later he published many articles to create awareness in this matter of safety and hygiene of both the surgeons and patients encouraging them to use the surgical drapes, gowns and other protective apparels.
In 1918s, the tradition of wearing the cotton gauze masks pulled up the safety procedures. Later in 1940s, the advancements in medical sciences and knowledge about infectious and their side effects led the use of antiseptic drapes and surgical gowns. But the AIDS epidemic played a crucial role in spreading out the understanding for the use of such sterile equipments to ensure the protection.
Today, it is practically unprecedented of that any surgical procedure is achieved without full protection clothes that help in preventing the infection of both the surgical team and patient. Luckily, the awareness for increasing and maintaining this level of safety has become the prime concern for a lot of companies and even every health or medical professional. Therefore, the advancements continue in the interest of protective apparels to enhance the hygienic and healthy work place.