Study bucks disposability trend

Disposability is ingrained into the manufacture of operating room wear, where sterility and splash protection trump other considerations. The Hohenstein Institute, Bönnigheim, Germany, and the Cleaning Technology Institute e.V., Krefeld, Germany, launched a study to buck the trend, looking at ways to replace throwaway surgical wear with re-usable fabrics that sustain 50–70 washings, provide the same protective features and are more comfortable for health professionals working in hot and stressful conditions. The research will continue into 2016.