In today’s surgical practice settings, the risk of transmitting infectious agents is a primary concern for the surgical team. Surgical fabrics (ie, gowns, drapes, and sterilization wraps) are intended to protect both patients as well as members of the surgical team from this risk. However, multi-use and single-use fabrics vary in the level of the protection, comfort, and cost-effectiveness they provide. Therefore, perioperative personnel must understand the differences between multi-use and single-use surgical fabrics in order to select the appropriate product to provide a safe environment of care for both patients and staff members. 

This continuing education activity will provide a review of the key criteria for evaluating the performance of surgical fabrics. The historical evolution of surgical barrier fabrics will be reviewed. The critical traits of quality surgical fabrics will be outlined, including a discussion of their clinical significance in the perioperative practice setting, with a focus on linting and barrier protection. Important test data that should be obtained from the manufacturer and used in the evaluation of surgical fabrics will be reviewed. Finally, the differences in the essential qualities of multi-use and single-use barrier fabrics will be discussed.