Piece Of Glove Research Articles

Prevalence of Type I Allergy to Latex and Type IV Allergy to Rubber Additives in Turkish Healthcare Workers.

Glove-induced dermatoses are frequently seen among healthcare workers (HCWs) and are often mistakenly defined as latex allergy. To determine the prevalences of (i) the symptoms of immediate type hypersensitivity reactions, (ii) the symptoms of hand eczema, (iii) latex sensitization detected using skin prick test (SPT), and (iv) contact hypersensitivity to rubber additives or glove pieces detected using patch test, in Turkish HCWs. Ninety-eight HCWs were included in the study. All subjects completed a questionnaire. All participants were skin prick tested for latex, and foods previously identified as concomitant allergens in latex-sensitive individuals; patch tested for 7 rubber additives, 3 additional haptens, and glove pieces. The mean age was 32.1 (± 9.4) years, and 71 (72.4%) participants were nurses. Eighty-four (85.7%) subjects had a history of mucocutaneous symptoms of immediate-type hypersensitivity occurring within the first 24 hours after latex glove contact, while 9 (9.2%) subjects demonstrated SPT positivity for latex. Eighty (81.6%) subjects had a history of glove-induced hand eczema symptoms, while patch test positivity for the rubber additives or glove pieces was in 17.3%. About one-tenth of those with a history of glove-induced type I hypersensitivity symptoms had true latex allergy, and one-quarter of those with a history of glove-related hand eczema symptoms had contact hypersensitivity to glove products. Therefore, rote avoidance of latex use is generally ineffective in the management of glove-related skin complaints. Individual measures should focus on reducing the use of soaps and disinfectants, and promoting the use of moisturizers, rather than glove choice.

A novel chronic nerve compression model in the rat.

Current animal models of chronic peripheral nerve compression are mainly silicone tube models. However, the cross section of the rat sciatic nerve is not a perfect circle, and there are differences in the diameter of the sciatic nerve due to individual differences. The use of a silicone tube with a uniform internal diameter may not provide a reliable and consistent model. We have established a chronic sciatic nerve compression model that can induce demyelination of the sciatic nerve and lead to atrophy of skeletal muscle. In 3-week-old pups and adult rats, the sciatic nerve of the right hind limb was exposed, and a piece of surgical latex glove was gently placed under the nerve. N-butyl-cyanoacrylate was then placed over the nerve, and after it had set, another piece of glove latex was placed on top of the target area and allowed to adhere to the first piece to form a sandwich-like complex. Thus, a chronic sciatic nerve compression model was produced. Control pups with latex or N-butyl-cyanoacrylate were also prepared. Functional changes to nerves were assessed using the hot plate test and electromyography. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy analyses of the nerves were performed to quantify the degree of neuropathological change. Masson staining was conducted to assess the degree of fibrosis in the gastrocnemius and intrinsic paw muscles. The pup group rats subjected to nerve compression displayed thermal hypoesthesia and a gradual decrease in nerve conduction velocity at 2 weeks after surgery. Neuropathological studies demonstrated that the model caused nerve demyelination and axonal irregularities and triggered collagen deposition in the epineurium and perineurium of the affected nerve at 8 weeks after surgery. The degree of fibrosis in the gastrocnemius and intrinsic paw muscles was significantly increased at 20 weeks after surgery. In conclusion, our novel model can reproduce the functional and histological changes of chronic nerve compression injury that occurs in humans and it will be a useful new tool for investigating the mechanisms underlying chronic nerve compression.

Efficacy of chlorine as a disinfecting agent on produce-harvesting gloves contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella

To minimize pathogen transfer from field worker's hands during hand harvest of ready-to-eat produce, gloves are often worn. However, fields are not sterile environments and transfer of pathogens to the gloves could occur throughout the day if the gloves come into contact with contaminated materials such as soil and produce. Given that changing gloves repeatedly is a costly solution, the merits to disinfecting gloves with chlorine solutions in the field were explored with efficacy (percent prevalence of gloves that were negative or positive for the pathogen) evaluated by subjecting the treated gloves to enrichment culture. Both the glove's level of pathogen contamination and chlorine exposure concentration affected the efficacy (P = 0.0000 and 0.0025, respectively). For example, complete elimination of Salmonella inoculated at ca. 3 log CFU/nitrile glove piece occurred at 50 ppm chlorine. However, when glove pieces had initial levels of ca. 6 log CFU E. coli O157:H7, exposure to 175 ppm did not completely eliminate the pathogen. Moreover, the likelihood of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella surviving were 32.0 and 4.4 times greater when the pathogen had been cultured on solid agar versus in liquid broth (95% CIs: 10.9 to 94.3 [P = 0.0000] and 2.1 to 8.9 [P = 0.0000], respectively). Another observation of this study was that dirty gloves exposed to both soil and lettuce sap were 11.6 times more likely than clean gloves to have the pathogen present after chlorine treatment (95% CI: 3.4 to 39.2, P = 0.0000). Monitoring these wash solutions for active chlorine revealed that no more than a 50% drop occurred suggesting that sufficient active chlorine remained for inactivating suspended pathogens and preventing cross-contamination. This data together with the observation that washing gloves in a second fresh batch of chlorine had little effect on the number of gloves absent of contamination would suggest that soil and sap is likely serving to protect the pathogen from exposure to the chlorine disinfectant. In an attempt to remove these materials, scrubbing during the chlorine immersion did not affect the efficacy of contaminated nitrile gloves (P = 0.1054) and actually led to a decreased efficacy of the chlorine treatment on contaminated Canners gloves (P = 0.0308). Although Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 residing on nitrile and Canners gloves that survived exposure to 200 ppm chlorine could be transferred to produce handled by the treated gloves, frequent washing of gloves with chlorine could be an effective risk reduction strategy as they would reduce the numbers of gloves that may be contaminated with low levels of pathogens.

Evaluation of effect of different disposable infection control barriers on light intensity of light-curing unit and microhardness of composite - An in vitro study.

Aims:This study evaluated effect of infection control barriers on light intensity (LI) of light-curing unit (LCU) and microhardness of composite.Materials and Methods:Four different disposable barriers (n = 30) were tested against the control. LI for each barrier was measured with Lux meter. One hundred and fifty Teflon molds were equally divided into five groups of thirty each. Composite was filled in bulk in these molds and cured without and with barrier. Microhardness was evaluated on top and bottom surface of composite specimen with microhardness testing machine and hardness ratio (HR) was derived.Statistical Analysis Used:One-way analysis of variance, Tukey's honestly significant difference test, and paired t-test using SPSS version 18 software.Results:All barriers had significantly reduced the baseline LI of LCU (P < 0.0001), but only Cure Elastic Steri-Shield and latex cut glove pieces (LCGP) significantly reduced the microhardness of the composite (P < 0.05). However, HR determined inadequate curing only with LCGP.Conclusions:Although entire tested barrier significantly reduced the LI; none, except LCGP markedly affected the degree of cure of the composite.

Quantitative leak test for microholes and microtears in whole gloves and glove pieces

The current leak tests for gloves are qualitative. The developed quantitative leak test uses vacuum pressure to draw measured volumes of water to detect microholes/tears in whole gloves and glove pieces. A modified plastic vacuum desiccator interfaced with a Frazier air permeability tester allowed exposure of disposable unsupported/unlined/powderless Kimtech Blue nitrile to 50 mL of water for glove pieces or to 600 mL within a whole glove at vacua of 8–9 in. (20–23 cm) and 11–12 in. (28–30 cm) water gauge, respectively. Punctures of known dimensions were made before testing in specific glove areas using 21-, 22-, 26-, 30-, and 33-gauge needles (outer/inner diameters in micrometres of 873/514, 794/413, 635/311, 476/127, 318/159 and 238/133, respectively). The length of the punctures varied from 0.13 ± 0.01 to 0.80 ± 0.11 mm. Flow rates of water through the holes/tears ranged from 2.5 ± 0.4 to 106 ± 7 mL/min for glove pieces. For whole gloves, the ranges were from 31 ± 9 to 543 ± 110 mL/min in the palm area; and 0.23 ± 0.06 to 82 ± 18 mL/min in the finger/fingertip area. The method quantified tear lengths as short as 0.13 ± 0.01 mm.

Screening of Natural Rubber-Degrading Microorganisms from Rubber Processing Factory Waste in Vietnam

Natural rubber-degrading microorganisms were isolated from waste of rubber processing factory in Cam Thuy of Vietnam. Four of them belong to Streptomyces sp. that showed the higher abilities for natural rubber degradation than the others. They are able to use both deproteinised natural rubber (DPNR) and synthetic rubber cis-1,4-polyisoprene (SR) as a sole source of carbon. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis revealed that these strains degraded DPNR and SR to low-molecular-weight products. The growth of isolates occurs essentially on the latex glove pieces after one month of incubation in mineral salt medium. The total nitrogen contents of glove pieces were determined using Kjeldahl method, which were 10-20 times higher than that in un-inoculated sample. Moreover, the degradation was also confirmed by observing the growth of isolates on glove’s surface using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Associação de urticária de contato e dermatite alérgica de contato à borracha

We present a case of a healthcare professional that developed type I and IV hypersensitivity reactions to rubber. During the clinical examination the patient showed eczematous dermatitis of the hands. The patch test was positive for thiuram group and an open test with a piece of glove was positive after 20 minutes of exposure. Allergen-specific IgE test (RAST) was relevant. Reactions to rubber allergens are frequent among healthcare professionals due to constant contact with this material.

Extractable latex allergens in airborne glove powder and in cut glove pieces.

Quantification of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergens of NRL glove extracts has been reported in several studies. Similarly, immunoassay studies reporting the level of NRL aeroallergens in air samples have been published. When studying the NRL allergens of gloves, however, little attention has been focused on identifying the relationship between extractable NRL allergens of medical gloves and NRL aeroallergens in indoor air. In an experimental study we analysed NRL aeroallergens of medical gloves in joint relation to total airborne dust concentration and NRL allergen concentration in gloves. NRL aeroallergen level was measured using a chamber setting with 18 lots of powdered medical gloves. In each setting 10 pairs of powdered NRL gloves were swinging in an unventilated chamber (9 m3). Air samples were collected using airflow through Millipore filters (pore size 0.8 microm). The filters were weighed before and after the experiment, and total airborne dust concentration in the chamber was calculated. The filter samples were then extracted and the NRL allergen level measured by IgE ELISA-inhibition assay. Furthermore, cut NRL gloves were extracted and analysed by the same method. Finally, levels of two major NRL allergens, Hev b1 and Hev b 6.02, were measured in three selected NRL glove brands. The NRL aeroallergen level in the chamber air ranged from < 0.9 to 2.9 allergen units (AU)/m3. The total airborne dust concentration in the chamber air remained low with all lots of gloves measured (range < 20 to 80 microg/m3). The NRL allergen level in cut glove extracts varied over 100-fold (< 10 to 1050 AU/mL). Statistically significant correlation between aeroallergen concentration and airborne dust (r = 0.8, P = 0.0015) concentration was found. Moreover, significant correlation between aeroallergen levels and allergen content of cut glove pieces was observed (r = 0.59, P < 0.05). Hev b 1 levels varied from 9 to 25 ng/mL and the levels of Hev b 6.02 from 1720 to 14460 ng/mL in the glove extracts. In the extracts from airborne dust samples, Hev b 6.02 content varied from 61 to 183 ng/m3, whereas Hev b 1 levels were very low (0.4 to 3 ng/m3). An elevated NRL aeroallergen level is rather related to a high level of airborne glove powder than to a high concentration of extractable NRL allergen in medical gloves.

Bronchoscopy in Respiratory Failure

To the Editor.— Dr. Renz and associates deserve congratulations for their ingenious method of maintaining ventilation during bronchoscopy with a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope (219:619,1972). The author has used a similar technique which may be somewhat simpler. Technique.— A Rovenstine 90° elbow connector is interposed between the endotracheal tube of the patient and the mechanical ventilator. It has a 6.5 mm suction channel which barely allows the passage of a 5 mm bronchofiberscope (Figure). Bronchoscopy and suction are carried out through this channel while ventilation is maintained. A small leak occurring around the shaft of the bronchoscope is easily compensated by appropriate adjustments on the ventilator. Anesthetic elbow connectors with a wider suction channel has also been used. A rubber diaphragm cut from a piece of glove or penrose drain is taped over the suction channel and a 3 to 4 mm slit is made in its middle. The diaphragm