What is Leaky Can be Risky: A Study of the Integrity of Hospital Gloves

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Ohne thousand six-hundred and eighteen medical gloves were trreated to determine whether, with current increased demands, these gloves are of high quality, i.e., free of leaks. The risk of exposure to potentially infected fluids when using leaky gloves was also estimated. Using four-stage leak test, no significant difference was found bewteen 64 of 790 (8.1%, range 0% to 44.4%) unsterile latex glovers and 11 of 210 (5.2%, range 1.7% to 21.7%) unsterile vinyl gloves (p = .21). Sterile surgical gloves (7 of 618, 1.13% [range 0% to 3%]) had fewer leaks compared to unsterile latex and vinyl gloves combined (p < .0001). The safranin test was positive in 27 of 28 (96.4%) leaky gloves tested, indicating a high risk of exposure to potentially infected fluids when leaky gloves are used. Becuase of these findings, elements of "universal precautions" such as changing gloves after each patient contact and good handwashing after using gloves should be carefully observed. There is a need for the Food and Drug Administration to establish more stringent guidelines for manufacturing gloves and to verify compliance with these guidelines.