GARMENT HAVING BARRIER LAYER ADHERED THERETO

The present invention provides a garment (e.g., a surgical gown) having adhered thereto a conformable, thin polymeric barrier film. The barrier film provides fluid resistance to the garment while still allowing the garment to "breathe." In addition, preferred barrier films are resistant to the transmission of pathogens. The barrier film of the present invention, prior to being applied to a fabric substrate, is preferably provided as an assembly in the form of an individual sheet, a roll of material, or a pad of stacked sheets. The assembly preferably comprises a relatively thin, conformable polymeric film; a pressure sensitive adhesive attached to at least a portion of one surface of said film; a means for protecting said adhesive prior to application of the film to a fabric substrate; and a means for handling said adhesive coated film during application of said film to said fabric substrate, wherein said handling means is attached to said film more tenaciously than said protecting means is attached to the adhesive surface of said film.