Usage and Care of Medical Textiles

Medicinske tekstilije predstavljajo eno izmed najhitreje razvijajočih se področij na svetu in nobeno drugo potrošno blago v bolnišnicah ni tako razširjeno in pogosto uporabljeno, kot so tekstilije. Na podlagi dostopnih podatkov smo v diplomskem delu predstavili pregled in opis najpogosteje uporabljenih medicinskih tekstilij v bolnišnicah. Opisali smo sodobne materiale za medicinske tekstilije, ki kažejo napredek na medicinskem področju ter pripomorejo k še boljši zaščiti in udobju tako bolnika, kot zdravstvenega osebja. Osredotočili smo se predvsem na operacijske tekstilije in predstavili standarde, katerim morajo ustrezati medicinske tekstilije v zdravstvu. Ker so medicinske tekstilije zaradi svoje strukture idealen medij v katerem se zadržujejo mikroorganizmi, smo v nadaljevanju hoteli opozoriti na mikroorganizme, ki jih lahko pričakujemo pri rokovanju s tekstilijami v bolnišnicah, operacijskih dvoranah in predvsem v pralnicah, kjer se izvaja pranje medicinskih tekstilij. Proti slednjim pa je pomembno tudi pravilno ukrepati, zato je bil namen diplomskega dela opisati nego medicinskih tekstilij, ki se začne vse od zbiranja tekstilij na oddelkih, do prevoza, sortiranja, pranja, razkuževanja, sušenja, sortiranja ter končnega prevoza tekstilij nazaj na oddelek. Bolnišnične pralnice morajo ustrezati določenim standardom, da lahko izpolnijo osnovni namen pranja, ki je vrnitev umazanih, okuženih tekstilij v čisto, sveže in razkuženo stanje brez poškodb na tekstilijah za nadaljnjo uporabo. V bolnišnicah nastajajo veliki stroški, zato je tudi izbira materialov pomembna. V zadnjem delu diplomske naloge smo predstavili stroškovni pregled uporabe materialov za enkratno in večkratno uporabo, ki je bil dobljen v UKC Mariboru in pri BTT tekstilu d.o.o.Medicine textiles represent one of the fastest developing fields in the world. No other durable goods are as widely spread and used in hospitals. This diploma includes a presentation and description of medical textiles, most frequently used in hospitals, based on gathered data. A description of modern materials, used for medical textiles, is also included. Those materials demonstrate an advancement in medical field and help and to improve protection and comfort of patients and hospital staff. We focused mainly on surgery textiles demonstrating certain standards, must meet in a health care environment. Because of their structure, medical textiles represent an ideal medium for withholding microorganisms, we wanted to point out the possibility of coming in contact with such microorganisms in hospitals, surgeries and especially in laundries, where medical textiles are being washed. In such cases one must follow corresponding measures and that was the intention of our diplomato describe suitable care of medical textiles, starting from gathering those textiles in different departments of a hospital, their transport, to sorting and washing procedure, disinfection, drying, sorting and the final transport back to the corresponding department. Hospital laundries must meet certain standards to carry out the basic purpose of the washing procedure, to return dirty, infected textiles into a clean, fresh and disinfected environment for further use without damaging them. Hospitals face vast costs, therefore an appropriate choice of material is of high importance. In the last part of our diploma we prepared a list of expenses for single-use and multiple-use materials. This list is based on data collected in UKC Maribor (General hospital of Maribor) and at BTT tekstil d.o.o