Comparison of 4 different types of surgical gloves used for preventing blood contact.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Needlestick injuries are always associated with a risk of infection, because these types of punctures may expose healthcare workers to a patient's blood and/or body fluids.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the efficacy of 4 different types of surgical gloves for preventing exposure to blood as a result of needlestick injury.

METHODS:

For simulation of needlestick injury, a circular sample of pork skin was tightened onto a bracket, and a single finger from a medical glove was stretched over the sample. First, a powder-free surgical glove with a gel coating was used to test blood contact. Second, a glove with a patented puncture indication system was used to test blood contact with a double-gloved hand. Third, 2 powder-free latex medical gloves of the same size and hand were combined for double gloving, again to test blood contact. Finally, we tested a glove with an integrated disinfectant on the inside. The punctures were carried out using diverse sharp surgical devices that were contaminated with (99)Tc-marked blood. The amount of blood contact was determined from the transmitted radioactivity.

RESULTS:

For the powder-free surgical glove with a gel coating, a mean volume of 0.048 microL of blood (standard error of the mean [SEM], 0.077 microL) was transferred in punctures with an automated lancet at a depth of 2.4 mm through 1 layer of latex. For the glove with an integrated disinfectant on the inside, the mean volume of blood transferred was 0.030 microL (SEM, 0.0056 microL) with a single glove and was 0.024 microL (SEM, 0.003 microL) with 2 gloves. For the glove with the patented puncture indication system, a mean volume of 0.024 microL (SEM, 0.003 microL) of blood was transferred.

CONCLUSIONS:

Double gloving or the use of a glove with disinfectant can result in a decrease in the volume of blood transferred. Therefore, the use of either of these gloving systems could help to minimize the risk of bloodborne infections for medical staff.

• Authors: Andreas Wittmann, Nenad Kralj, Jan Köver, Klaus Gasthaus, Hartmut Lerch, Friedrich Hofmann
• Journal: Infection control and hospital epidemiology (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol) Vol. 31 Issue 5 Pg. 498-502 (May 2010) ISSN: 1559-6834 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20334549 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Latex

Topics

• Animals
• Blood-Borne Pathogens
• Equipment Design
• Gloves, Surgical (classification, standards, statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Latex
• Meat
• Needlestick Injuries (prevention & control)
• Occupational Exposure (prevention & control)
• Swine