The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) and Vestagen Protective Technologies, Inc. today announced a partnership to promote the company’s VESTEX® Active Barrier (1) healthcare apparel. The VESTEX fabric combines fluid repellency and antimicrobial technologies into comfortable healthcare worker scrubs and lab coats. The teaming is expected to benefit North Texas hospitals by introducing them to new groundbreaking technology that has the potential to revolutionize traditional hospital uniforms. VESTEX Active Barrier apparel has earned the exclusive endorsement of the American Hospital Association.

More hospitals are requiring staff to wear uniforms with “active barrier” technology to protect the fabric from unanticipated exposure to body fluids that may contribute to germ transmission. A large portfolio of peer-reviewed published science suggests soft surfaces akin to apparel and linens can attract and retain microorganisms. Studies have demonstrated VESTEX protects the uniform fabric from fluids and retains fewer germs than the traditional uniform apparel used in hospitals.

Designed for wear throughout the work shift, VESTEX minimizes the risks associated with unanticipated exposures by repelling fluid splatter and spills from the fabric. It contains an EPA-registered antimicrobial agent (2) shown in hospital settings and in controlled laboratory conditions to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria on the fabric. (3,4) A study in The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s peer-reviewed hospital-based publication, “Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology,” showed reduced acquisition and retention of certain microorganisms on VESTEX scrubs compared to conventional healthcare uniforms.

“Vestagen’s solution stands out for its potential to contribute to the culture of safety that is a concern for all of our North Texas healthcare institutions,” said W. Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “We are thrilled to have them join the DFWHC team. VESTEX is designed to address risks confronted by our employees and patients every day and we welcome the chance to work with Vestagen to inform our members about these benefits.”

Valerie Craig, RN, a former chair of the DFWHC Patient Safety Quality Committee and vice president, clinical effectiveness and patient safety at Methodist Health System, said historic approaches to preventing hospital acquired infections have required extreme diligence.

“To have a sustainable impact, all members of the healthcare team must put forth constant effort,” she said. “As a nurse and healthcare executive, I am excited about innovative advances in technologies like VESTEX fabric as it offers nurses, physicians and all members of the care team a layer of defense against splatters while reducing the risks of exposure.”

“We have received very positive feedback from hospitals across the country that have implemented VESTEX,” said Ben Favret, founder and president of Vestagen. “We are honored to work with DFWHC to present the benefits of VESTEX to North Texas hospitals and their healthcare professionals on the frontlines of patient care.”

The DFWHC Foundation announced that Vestagen representatives will be participating in the 10th Annual Patient Safety Summit, August 9-10, 2017. For the last decade, the Patient Safety Summit has been a great opportunity for North Texas hospitals to come together and share knowledge on quality and patient care. The 2017 event will be held at the Marriot Las Colinas Hotel in Irving, TX.

1 – Neither liquid repellency nor antimicrobial tests are intended to assess the VESTEX active barrier apparel’s ability to meet personal protective equipment requirements. The ability of the fabric to reduce exposure to microorganisms or infections has not been studied.
2 – VESTEX garments do not protect users or others against disease-causing bacteria. Always clean the garment thoroughly after each use.
3 – Bearman, G., Rosato, A., Elam, K., Sanogo, K., Stevens, M., Sessler, C., and Wenzel, R. P., “A Cross-over Trial of Antimicrobial Scrubs to Reduce MRSA Burden on Healthcare Worker Apparel,” Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol., Vol. 33, No. 3, 2012, pp. 268–275.
4 – Hardwick, Matthew, Walsh, Thomas, and Cotton, Margaret, “Fabric Challenge Assays: New Standards for the Evaluation of the Performance of Textiles Treated with Antimicrobial Agents,” Pesticide Formulation and Delivery Systems: Innovating Legacy Products for New Uses on November 1–3, 2011 in Tampa FL; STP 1558, M. Bernards, Editor, pp. 1–14, doi: 101520/STP155820120184, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA 2013.