In the never ending crusade against drug resistant bacteria, researchers at the University of Portsmouth and DCS Designs Ltd., a spinoff company, designed a new type of hospital gown for patients with a special anti-bacterial coating. Predictably, neither the university nor the company are eager to reveal the technology’s details:
The patient gown combines a new and innovative design with an anti-microbial finish that controls the growth of bacteria.
The gown’s unique design aims to reduce the spread of infection by minimising patient handling. It facilitates access to the patient’s body for examination and makes it easier to change than regular gowns. Less patient handling means less contact with nurse’s uniforms which reduces the chance of cross-contamination.
The gown was designed by DCS Designs, a graduate start-up company emerging from the University of Portsmouth. Fatima BA-Alawi invented the design while she was still a student and working in a hospital as a health care assistant where she noticed improvements could be made to the conventional patient gown.
She has teamed up with Carrington Career & Workwear Ltd whose product, Permagard, provides the bug-busting ingredient.
“I’m thrilled that my design is being used for the trial. I designed the gown to promote patient dignity, comfort and safety but I’m delighted that it might help prevent the spread of diseases like MRSA,” Fatima said.
Press release by the University of Portsmouth . . .
DCS Designs’ uninformative website…