Devices & Diagnostics, Hospitals, Startups

Anti-microbial textile firm Vestagen inks deal with Florida health system

Medical textile company Vestagen Technical Textiles has signed its biggest health system contract to date […]

Medical textile company Vestagen Technical Textiles has signed its biggest health system contract to date for its anti-microbial uniforms that are designed to repel body fluids, according to a company statement. The 5-year contract with a five-hospital health system comes as hospitals seek to reduce hospital-acquired infection cases and improve safety for patients and hospital staff.

Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, will distribute the 30,000 garments to more than 6,000 staff members across its hospitals involved in direct patient care starting July 9. The health system will also distribute Vestagen’s patient apparel to improve patient protection.

Vestagen’s Vestex textile technology acts like Gore-tex but for hospital apparel. It’s designed to repel body fluids and contaminants that can contribute to the spread of hospital-acquired infections.

Uniforms are frequently the focus of debates over the best way to cut hospital acquired infections, especially doctor uniforms. On the one hand, some studies have shown they can be a source of HAI transmission. But doctor uniforms are also viewed as a source of trust and reassurance for patients, so much so that the Florida-based Vestagen initiated a “Keep the Coats” campaign earlier this year as a way to frame the debate with its textiles as a solution.

Vestex uses fluorine/silicon oxides that bind to individual fibers of the garment to resist water, blood and bodily fluids.

Last year, the Orlando-based company raised $15.5 million in a Series A round, according to an emailed statement, to apply for FDA medical device clearance and launch its Vestex line of products.

The $16 billion market to prevent hospital-acquired infections is being fueled partially by Obamacare, which penalizes hospitals for re-admissions for patients with these conditions. HAI also increase hospitalization costs and jeopardize patient safety.

Another medical textile company active in the anti-HAI market is PurThread, which uses treated threads to produce anti-microbial curtains, uniforms, blankets and sheets.

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