During surgery, if the tissue material becomes wet, the risk of pathogen transmission increases. Therefore, multi-purpose or single-purpose surgical wipes and surgical clothing materials used in surgery should be able to prevent liquid penetration. Reusable materials typically consist of different dense woven fabrics and/or knitted cotton, or other fabrics that may be mixed with polyester and/or chemical treatments. These products must be durable. Disposable surgical wipes and gowns are usually made from non-woven fabrics made of synthetic and/or natural materials and may also be chemically treated.
After the surgical site has been prepared, a medical non-woven surgical towel, an ordinary towel, or a towel impregnated with an antimicrobial agent (mainly iodoprene) is applied to the patient's skin. This film attaches to the skin, the surgeon cuts through the skin, and covers it again, theoretically acting as a mechanical and/or microbial barrier to prevent the migration of microorganisms from the skin to the surgical site.