More than half of disposable isolation gowns tested by the ECRI Institute didn't meet standard protection levels, according to a Nov. 10 news release.
The patient safety organization assessed 34 disposable gowns from international or nontraditional suppliers and found 52 percent of the gowns failed to meet the lowest protection standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
The patient safety organization warned against using isolation gowns from international suppliers, as they may put employees at risk. If healthcare organizations have no other option, the gowns should only be worn in "extremely low-risk circumstances," ECRI said.