ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A workshop convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has recommended greater use of hygienically clean reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals and other healthcare settings, according to the official proceedings of the workshop.
Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL), the workshop brought together technical experts, policymakers, manufacturers, healthcare providers, industrial laundry operators and other stakeholders to examine the safety, environmental sustainability and cost-savings of reusable PPE and to propose opportunities to increase its use.
During the two-day event, Dr. Maryann D’Alessandro, the government’s leading PPE expert and director of NPPTL, stated “the realization of the potential benefits of reusable PPE—such as reduced waste, decreased overall costs and lowered environmental impact—is unlikely without legislation.”
She pledged to “identify partners” who can help advance the legislative and regulatory changes that will be needed to “increase the use of reusable PPE.”
“The National Academies brought together an incredible group of experts who made clear that greater use of hygienically clean reusable textiles in healthcare must be a national priority,” says Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services, after the release of the workshop’s proceedings.
“Reusable scrubs, surgical gowns and other textiles provide a critical opportunity for the healthcare industry to lower costs, improve sustainability and protect patients and providers.”
The NASEM was tasked with convening the workshop following a bipartisan, congressional request to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to study the issue.
The NASEM proceedings identified several important public health benefits of hygienically clean reusable textiles, including:
- High quality and safety: Reusable hygienically clean healthcare textiles meet the highest standards for safety and performance, with robust tracking and inspection to ensure the integrity and safety of garments during their use. TRSA’s hygienically clean certification program is based on CDC guidelines and meticulously crafted to ensure healthcare facilities can rely on clean and safe reusable textiles.
- Reduced waste and environmental impact: Reusable PPE has a smaller environmental impact, even after factoring in the manufacturing, transporting, and reprocessing of reusable textiles. The workshop discussed research that shows one reusable gown can replace 75 disposable gowns, and using reusable surgical gowns in place of disposable gowns can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 66%.
- Lower costs: Reusable PPE generate significant savings. Research was presented showing hospitals that use reusable isolation gowns experience 52% cost savings over disposable products. Other healthcare textiles—such as surgical gowns and incontinence pads—delivered up to 90% cost savings.
- Enhanced pandemic preparedness: The recent COVID-19 pandemic revealed the risks of relying on single-use PPE, which left hospitals and other healthcare providers facing supply shortages. A better balance between hygienically clean reusable textiles and disposables can lead to a more resilient supply of PPE in future public health emergencies.
“Despite the superior benefits of hygienically clean reusable textiles,” continues Ricci, “the United States lags behind other countries in their use. I’m hopeful this workshop will be a catalyst for change.
“Director D’Alessandro mentioned that NIOSH will identify partners who can help advance greater use of reusable PPE, and TRSA and its members are eager to be a partner in those efforts.
“I applaud everyone who provided their knowledge and expertise during this important workshop, including leaders in America’s textiles and laundry industries.”
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
