a barrier against germs:
- either by their water-repellent property due to water repellent "pearling" treatment with absorbent reinforcements if necessary
- or by their water-proof property due to lamination of a polyethylene layer.

Low particle emission due to manufacturing methods

Adapted cutting and folding facilitating placing

Single-use, which removes the risks of contamination linked to recycling and reuse.

The product's constant quality (no change over time as a result of washing or sewing work)

Absorption of excess liquids

Isolation of the operating site by means of adhesives with good skin tolerance.

When used, non-woven fabrics are lightweight, flexible and do not become uncomfortable during a long period of use. They are very simple to use.

During an operation the infection of the surgical wound is a constant threat. The type of operation undergone, its duration and the state of the patient's immunity system are all risk factors, along with air contamination induced by particles in the operating environment, carrying germs or micro-organisms that infect the surgical wound. These particles may be :

dust in the operating environment (via the ventilation, for instance)

particles from people's skin (desquamation), carried by the air or transmitted by contact, along with fibres detaching from textiles. These last two elements can be controlled by choosing appropriate protective garments or non-woven surgical drape.

Numerous studies compare the impact of non-woven and woven fabrics. The study by W. WHYTE shows, for example, that the count of particles in suspension in operating theatre air is reduced by 43% when non-woven fabrics are used (ref. Journal of Hygiene, 1976, vol 76 : 367-378.). Two hospitals had the same surgical team use garments and surgical drapes alternatively in non-woven fabric and in cotton during 2253 consecutive general surgical operations (that is to say 1100 for non-woven fabric and 1153 for cotton): 2.27% wound infections were noted with single-use articles against 6.41% for cotton. (ref. Moylan J.A ; Surgery, gynaecology & obstetrics, Oct 1980, vol 151 : 465-470).

An increasing number of hospitals use non-woven fabrics. In addition to the safety they procure for patients and staff, they are easy to manage since delivered new and sterile to the hospital :

The responsibility for sterility therefore falls on the manufacturer and not on the hospital pharmacist, until reception of the product in the hospital.

Moreover, each product is labelled, identifiable and traceable by a reference and batch number. The comparison between the number of pieces delivered, invoiced and used is easy to check, making possible improved forecasting and better budget following.

Finally, there is no unexpected increased cost due to losses or defects for the health establishment since the products are single use.

Concerning storage, non-woven fabrics have the advantage of taking up less room than woven fabrics, which is a non-negligible advantage, particularly in operating theatres.

As laid down in regulations relating to the disposal of waste from health care activities, where there is risk of infection, dirty non-woven fabrics must be disposed of in the same way as all waste where there is a risk of infection.
There are therefore two options:

incineration or pre-treating by disinfecting instruments making it possible for the waste to be disposed of with household waste.

For waste that may contain ATNC, the sole option is incineration.

On an average, the price of incineration varies for contaminated waste from 228.67 to 609.80 euros a tonne, depending on the company and the distance from the incineration area. When you know that a hospital with some 50 surgical beds produces some 5 tonnes of waste per year, that is to say roughly 1 kg per operation, you can see that this expense, that is so feared by hospital managers and described as crippling by adversaries of non-woven fabrics, is, in fact minimal. It works out at between 0.23 and 0.61 euros per operation.

For the hospitals producing a very high volume of contaminated waste, the price of disposal can be reduced even more (to much below 457.35 euros per tonne). It is question of pre-treating the waste so that it can be disposed of with household waste and then collected by the municipal services, which works out even cheaper.

Non-woven fabrics used in the operating theatre represent 0.3% of waste linked to care (720 000 tonnes) and 0.7% of infected waste generated by hospital activities (311 000 tonnes). The volume thus generated in France represents some 2200 tonnes per year, that is to say a negligible amount compared to the total volume of waste produced.

The evaluation of incineration in respect to energy is often positive, since the heat released can be used to produce energy. Finally, as indicated in the recommendations by EDANA for the production of non-woven fabrics in the respect of the environment, the non-woven fabric industry in Europe is actively engaged in a production that reconciles ecology and cost-saving. It should be recalled that non-woven fabric is composed of polyethylenes, polyesters, polypropylenes, celluloses or viscoses and does not emit toxic gas on combustion. Its destruction releases carbon dioxide and water vapour, that is to say molecules composed only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. No chlorine is released. Therefore, the generalised use of non-woven fabrics will not be harmful to the environment.

Non-woven fabrics are mainly composed of polymers. These synthetic fibres, by-products of the petroleum industry, do not, as such, have an impact on world deforestation. Only a small part of non-woven fabric contains wood pulps. And even if all operating theatres had recourse to non-woven fabrics, the quantity of wood consumed in one year would barely correspond to three issues of a national weekly newspaper.

This is a treatment (varnish) whose main aim is to improve the resistance to scratches and abrasion of organic lenses. For non-treated polycarbonate, the index of resistance to scratches is 300 against 700 for an HVI polycarbonate (diamond point test).

It is a treatment designed to eliminated ultraviolet radiations (between 200 and 380nm) in the solar spectre and artificial lighting (Wood's lamps, etc.), the latter being particular harmful to eyes. This is a standard treatment for polycarbonate.

Wash in lukewarm water and liquid detergent. Dry with a dry, soft cloth or special fabric for wiping glasses.

Resistance to scratches

Resistance to misting

Resistance to low energy impacts (maximum speed 45m/s)

Resistance to liquids (single-block type screen, masks)