Latex Gloves Research Articles

Equipment that should be carried by a physician who goes to the earthquake region for emergency assistance during the winter season

In February 2023, two major earthquakes in Turkey affected 10 cities. We wanted to share our experience with the equipment that the first responders in the earthquake area should take with them, apart from medical supplies.The equipment required for patient care is as follows; stethoscope, trauma scissors, flashlight, and headlamp (for power outage situation), safety glasses, scrubs (spare), mask, medical gloves, regularly used drugs (such as decongestants, antibiotics, analgesics), battery, hospital ID, notepad, pen. Personal equipment that is not necessary for patient care is as follows; backpack (with name tag), power bank (to keep in touch), list of basic contact numbers, thermos (for tea and coffee), enough ready-made food to last at least three days (dry foods, energy, and protein bars, instant sachet soup, etc.), water bottle, fork, spoon, glass, garbage bag, whistle, work gloves, ear protection, sleeping bag and mat (tent if possible), personal hygiene items (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, napkins).

Analysis of Contact Allergens in Polyvinyl Chloride Examination Gloves in the United States.

Background: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves are recommended as a safe alternative for patients with rubber accelerator allergy. However, allergic contact dermatitis to other chemicals in PVC gloves has been reported. Objective: To analyze single-use PVC medical examination gloves in the United States for the presence of potential contact allergens. Methods: Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, 20 unique PVC gloves were analyzed in triplicate for 6 chemicals: benzisothiazolinone, bisphenol A, mono(2-ethylhexyl) maleate, tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, and triphenyl phosphite. Results: All 20 PVC gloves contained detectable quantities of benzisothiazolinone (range, 0.001-1.48 parts per million [ppm]), bisphenol A (0.01-0.11 ppm), triphenyl phosphate (0.01-2.11 ppm), and triphenyl phosphite (0.001-0.22 ppm). Eighteen (90%) gloves contained mono(2-ethylhexyl) maleate (0.001-0.14 ppm) and 3 (15%) contained tricresyl phosphate (0.001-0.002 ppm). Conclusions: Known allergens were present in all 20 PVC gloves. However, the detected levels were mostly low and their relationship with sensitization and elicitation thresholds requires further study.

Evaluation of the risk of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs in healthcare sector: part I - medical gloves.

Antineoplastic drugs (ADs) are essential tools in cancer treatment, but their cytotoxicity poses a risk to workers involved in their handling. In a hospital environment fundamental strategies for minimising exposure involve proper use of safety cabinets and closed-circuit transfer devices, along with personnel training and increased awareness of risks. However, medical gloves remain the first line of defence. In this respect the evaluation of glove materials and best choices can improve hospital safety management and prevent potential hazards and long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to assess contamination of gloves in samples taken from AD administration and preparation units of nine Italian hospitals and to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating chemico-physical properties of gloves. Our findings show that 33 % of the analysed gloves were positive for at least one AD, with contaminations ranging from 0.6 to 20,729 pg/ cm2. We proposed the alert glove values (AGVs) for each AD as a limit value for contamination assessment and good practice evaluation. Our findings also point to multiple AD contamination (43 % of positive findings in preparation units), calculated as total AGV (AGV-T), and confirm that gloves should be replaced after 30 min of AD handling, based on cumulative permeation and area under the curve (AUC), to maintain safety and limit dermal exposure.

Assessing micrometer-scale contamination from organic materials in serpentinite analysis

Serpentinization of peridotite provides a significant source of energy for the subseafloor biosphere and abiotic organic synthesis. The presence of diverse micrometer-scale organic matter in serpentinites offers insights into deep carbon cycling and the origin of life on Earth. It is critical to maintain stringent lab protocols in analyzing serpentinite samples, limiting the contact with organic materials that could contaminate serpentinites and cause misinterpretations. However, the extent to which these organic materials (e.g. latex gloves or nylon polishing disc) can introduce contamination remains unclear. Here we subject serpentinite samples from the Yap Trench in the western Pacific Ocean to multi-stage cutting and polishing procedures prior to analysis. Our findings from electron microscopy reveal that micrometer-scale organic matter in serpentinites is randomly distributed either on the sample surface or within Cr-spinel fractures. Further analysis using Raman spectroscopy indicates that the organic matter contains several hydrogen bonding moieties, similar to those found in the latex gloves or nylon polishing disc used during the treatment of serpentinite samples. Our results suggest that the detected organic matter is likely due to contamination from the organic materials involved during sample processing. Thus, future studies need to carefully assess micrometer-scale organic contamination and limit the use of organic materials when analyzing organic compounds hosted in serpentinites, not only on Earth but also on other rocky planets.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy using totally homemade glove port versus conventional laparoscopic approach: A cross-sectional study in a developing country

PurposeSeveral home made glove ports for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has been proposed but no comparison in surgical outcomes with conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) was made. Therefore, we aimed to compare the outcomes of SILC using a totally homemade glove port versus CLC. MethodsThis cross-sectional study compared the surgical outcomes between 90 patients, who underwent SILC and 123 patients who underwent CLC. Patients with acute cholecystitis grade 3 according to the Tokyo Guidelines 2018, body mass index ≥30, and previous abdominal surgeries were excluded. Totally homemade glove port was made of a small and a big rubber ring and a surgical glove to creat the wound retractor. Trocars were inserted into the glove's fingers. ResultsThe proportion of patients with acute cholecystitis was lower in the SILC group (7.78%) than in CLC (21.79%). Intraoperative complication rate, the prevalence of additional trocar or conversion to open surgery, success rate, and postoperative complication rate were similar between the two groups. However, SILC showed a significantly longer operative time (62.9 ± 25.1 verus 50.4 ± 20.7 min) and lower postoperative pain than CLC. The discrepancy in operative time was more likely to be remarkable in acute cholecystitis (50.43 min) compared with symptomatic cholelithiasis (14.28 min). ConclusionsThe SILC using a totally homemade glove port is feasible and safe compared with the CLC. However, in the case of acute cholecystitis, SILC should be indicated with caution because of the longer operative time than CLC.

90Y Contamination in the Interventional Radiology Suite: VARSKIN Estimation of Skin and Eye Injury and Review of Mitigation Strategies.

Our objective was to demonstrate, through computer simulations, radiation exposure levels from a 90Y contamination event during radioembolization procedures to calculate the radiation doses from various contamination scenarios. We also provide reasonable safety protocols to prevent contamination and minimize radiation exposure during decontamination. Methods: Simulations were performed using the computer code VARSKIN+, version 1.0, to determine the amount of radiation exposure resulting from different contamination scenarios. Results: The annual radiation dose limit to the skin and the lens of the eye was exceeded within 23 s of exposure to a 44-MBq droplet. Double layers of surgical gloves and level 3 gowns provided some attenuation of radiation from 90Y contamination by reducing the dose rate by 39% and 44%, respectively. Two layers of surgical gloves offered the best ratio of radiation protection without compromising dexterity. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that radiation exposures during 90Y spills or contamination events can be considerable. Interventional radiology and nuclear medicine personnel must be mindful of the risks, follow strategies to prevent spills, and be familiar with recommended decontamination procedures for spills in the interventional radiology suite.

Hand Scrubbing and Donning of Sterile Surgical Gloves: An Observational Clinical Audit of Novice Dental Surgeons.

Background The most critical factors in the satisfactory recovery of a patient post-surgery are obedience to sterilization and aseptic protocol.Using aseptic principles, the standard hand scrubbing and gloving procedure prevents contamination of the surgical site and aids in infection control. Methods Eighty dental interns were observed during minor oral surgical procedures for hand scrubbing and donning sterile surgical gloves, following the steps and guidelines providedby World Health Organization (WHO). The dental interns were evaluated, and in order to enhance their understanding of hand scrubbing and donning surgical gloves, desensitization programs were conducted through lectures using PowerPoint presentations. After one week, the participants were observed and evaluated again. This program made the participants aware of asepsis and infection control in clinical practice. Results Prior to intervention, only 37.14% of young dental surgeonsperformed proper conventional hand hygiene practices. After the intervention, this percentage increased to 62.142%, indicating a significant improvement. Regarding the donning of sterile surgical gloves, 43.75% of participants followed the standard steps before the intervention. After the intervention, the percentage raised to 86.25% indicating substantial growth. Conclusion Observations before and after the evaluation demonstrated significant changes in the acceptance rates for the fundamental criteria of hand hygieneand donning sterile surgical gloves. Adhering to both procedures according to WHO guidelines will help to reduce the risk of infections and raise awareness about asepsis in the practice among youngdental surgeons.

Durability Variation Among Medical Gloves Made from Existing and New Elastomers Poses a Risk to Public Health.

Despite being an essential line of defense in preventing the spread of diseases, medical glove durability is neither measured routinely nor has standard specifications. In this study, a new glove durability assessment device is used to objectively compare the durability of gloves made of a variety of elastomers from different manufacturers. Results are related to several mechanical tests, including stress relaxation, tensile and tear tests. Overall, natural latex gloves far outperformed those made of synthetic elastomers, and there is great disparity among the different brands of nitrile gloves, some of which do not meet nitrile glove performance requirements. The study includes prototype gloves made from guayule latex, a domestic source of alternative natural rubber latex, currently under commercial development. The guayule gloves outperformed all other gloves tested, including those made from Hevea latex, without posing allergy risks. Mechanical analysis demonstrated that the guayule gloves are as strong as the best alternatives, are softer and more elastic, have better tear strength, and have such low stress relaxation that they cause very little hand fatigue during use. Guayule latex can address the need for domestic production of gloves to resolve supply chain and quality issues and encourage a shift back to natural latex gloves, which will significantly diversify the natural rubber supply.

Assessing pyrolysis performance and product evolution of various medical wastes based on model-free and TG-FTIR-MS methods

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a substantial rise in the amount of medical waste, posing additional hurdles in waste management. Disposing of this waste properly is essential to curb transmission of the diseases. The pyrolysis reaction kinetics, synergistic interactions, and pyrolysis gas release behavior of typical constituents of medical waste (MW): syringe (SY), medical gloves (MG), cotton swab sticks (CS), and their blends were examined by utilizing advanced analytical techniques including TG, TG-FTIR, TG-MS, and kinetic models (Friedman, KAS). The experiments were conducted using a wide range of heating rates, namely 10, 20, 30, and 40 °C⋅min−1. The pyrolysis reactions were mainly endothermic, with main stages ranging from 352.0–480.0 °C, from 381.0–511.0 °C, from 200.0–404.5 °C, 336.6–509.9 °C, 375.4–477.6 °C, 384.0–500.9 °C, for SY, MG, CS, SY5MG5, SY7CS3, and MG7CS3, respectively. According to the KAS method, the average activation energies for the mono-pyrolysis of SY, MG, and CS were determined as 240.8, 226.1, and 147.5 kJ⋅mol−1 respectively. Interestingly, during the pyrolysis of blends such as SY5MG5, SY7CS3, and MG7CS3, the activation energies decreased to 177.2, 159.9, and 149.1 kJ⋅mol−1 respectively. Notably, the experimental activation energy values (Eexp) obtained during the co-pyrolysis were significantly lower than the calculated values (Ecal), revealing an apparent synergistic effect during the pyrolysis of various MW blends. The pyrolysis process of MW blends resulted in the release of significant volatile components, including CH4, CO, C3H6, CO2, C2H5OH, C4H8, C5H8, C6H6, C6H14, C7H8, and C8H10. The specific composition of these volatile components varied depending on the types of waste present in the blends.

Research

The August 2023 Research Roundup360 looks at: Can artificial intelligence improve the readability of patient education materials?; What is the value of radiology input during a multidisciplinary orthopaedic oncology conference?; Periprosthetic joint infection in patients with multiple arthroplasties; Orthopedic Surgery and Anesthesiology Surgical Improvement Strategies Project - Phase III outcomes; Knot tying in arthroplasty and arthroscopy causes lesions to surgical gloves: a potential risk of infection; Vascular calcification of the ankle in plain radiographs equals diabetes mellitus?

Analysis of publications on surgical gloves

Aims: This bibliometric analysis aimed to examine the trends and characteristics of publications related to surgical gloves. The study analyzed articles retrieved from the Elsevier Scopus database, focusing on topics such as the history of glove usage, the importance of sterility, glove punctures, and advancements in glove designs. Methods: The data in this study were obtained by searching the Elsevier Scopus database. The search was selected from records containing the keywords in the title “surgical gloves” and a single day was chosen for the sake of being unbiased. In this study, only the articles were analyzed and the online library and digital resources of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University were used. Scopus' visuals were used for visualization after data analysis. Results: A total of 568 publications were included in the analysis, consisting of articles, letters, reviews, and other study documents. The majority of articles were written in English, and the top three countries in terms of publication output were the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Medical journals accounted for the largest share of publications, followed by nursing journals. Notably, there was a rising trend in the number of studies on glove punctures and advancements in glove designs. Richard F. Edlich from the University of Virginia School of Medicine emerged as the most productive author, and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Journal was the most prolific journal in this field. Conclusion: Today, studies on surgical gloves; focuses on latex glove allergy and surgical site infections. These studies; It is important for the prevention of infection during surgery in the future and the prevention of infectious diseases in healthcare workers.

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.

Social Sustainability of Raw Rubber Production: A Supply Chain Analysis under Sri Lankan Scenario

Raw rubber production is the sole foundation for the rubber product industry, rendering raw rubber to manufacture essential commodities to mankind, such as tires, condoms, surgical gloves, and so forth. Raw rubber production involves various stakeholders; however, literature focusing on the social impacts of the supply chains of raw rubber production has hereto been absent. Social life cycle assessment, a popular tool to assess the social impacts of a product or process and was deployed herein to assess the social profiles of three Sri Lankan raw rubber supply chains (crepe rubber, concentrated latex, and ribbed smoked sheets) in a cradle-to-gate manner. The Social Hotspots Database v4 on Sima Pro v9.3 was used for the analysis. Results indicated that Governance, Labour rights & decent work had been affected due to Corruption and Freedom of association & collective bargaining issues, mainly in Belarus and China. Proposed improvement options to address these touchpoints were found to be effective. If the importation of K-fertilizer shifted into countries with lower risks, such as Canada, Israel, and Lithuania, overall social risks associated with Corruption and Freedom of association & collective bargaining could be reduced by ca. 36% and 25%, respectively. As a result, social risks in the impact described above categories, i.e., Governance and Labor rights & decent work, were reduced by ca. 35–41% and ca. 17–20%, respectively. Managers may pay thorough attention to the hotspots identified herein in the first place and try to avoid them as much as possible. They may consider importation from the aforesaid low-risk countries while weighing the trade-offs with economic and environmental aspects.

Assessing the performance of concrete made with recycled latex gloves and silicone catheter using ultrasonic pulse velocity

Significant advances in concrete technology in modern times have prompted the search for environmentally friendly materials that could improve the properties of concrete. The inclusion of recyclable materials to conventional concrete can help in conserving key resources and produce environmentally friendly concrete. The incorporation of latex gloves and silicone catheter waste in concrete is one of the most important approaches to minimize the environmental problems associated with their disposal. In this study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of using latex gloves and silicone catheter waste as a substitute for coarse aggregates in concrete mixes. Concrete which was made with latex gloves and silicone catheter waste were subjected to UPV evaluations, i.e., ultrasonic pulse velocity tests at 28 curing days. Compressive strength and workability tests were also performed for reference and compared to the replacement sample. The inclusion of latex gloves and silicone catheter waste in proportions of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5 and 10% decreased the UPV values of the concrete. The results showed that the UPV values of the concrete decreased significantly from excellent to very good to poor for all specimens as the proportion of silicone catheters and latex gloves increased. The results showed that the addition of different proportions of latex gloves and silicone catheters decreased the compressive strength of the concrete by 86% and 59%, respectively, when the proportion of latex gloves and silicone catheters in the concrete mix was replaced by 10%. In addition, the fresh concrete property of concrete containing latex gloves and silicone catheters was decreased by 22% and 53%, respectively, when the proportion of latex gloves and silicone catheters was replaced by 10%. This study helps to raise environmental awareness by improving understanding of the waste generated and the importance of reusing waste as a substitute in concrete mixes.

It is time to revisit and re-evaluate Africa’s sub-par emergency surgical delivery

It is time to revisit and re-evaluate Africa’s sub-par emergency surgical delivery

Performance-Enhancing Materials in Medical Gloves.

Medical gloves, along with masks and gowns, serve as the initial line of defense against potentially infectious microorganisms and hazardous substances in the health sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical gloves played a significant role, as they were widely utilized throughout society in daily activities as a preventive measure. These products demonstrated their value as important personal protection equipment (PPE) and reaffirmed their relevance as infection prevention tools. This review describes the evolution of medical gloves since the discovery of vulcanization by Charles Goodyear in 1839, which fostered the development of this industry. Regarding the current market, a comparison of the main properties, benefits, and drawbacks of the most widespread types of sanitary gloves is presented. The most common gloves are produced from natural rubber (NR), polyisoprene (IR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), polychloroprene (CR), polyethylene (PE), and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Furthermore, the environmental impacts of the conventional natural rubber glove manufacturing process and mitigation strategies, such as bioremediation and rubber recycling, are addressed. In order to create new medical gloves with improved properties, several biopolymers (e.g., poly(vinyl alcohol) and starch) and additives such as biodegradable fillers (e.g., cellulose and chitin), reinforcing fillers (e.g., silica and cellulose nanocrystals), and antimicrobial agents (e.g., biguanides and quaternary ammonium salts) have been evaluated. This paper covers these performance-enhancing materials and describes different innovative prototypes of gloves and coatings designed with them.

Alergia ao Látex em Contexto Ocupacional

Introduction/framework/objectives Latex allergy is recognized as a widespread health problem that assumed serious proportions in the 1990s. Although preventive measures have markedly decreased its incidence, recent studies have shown that it remains an important health problem in certain population groups, particularly in developing countries. This work aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current status of occupational latex allergies. We summarize various aspects of this condition, such as prevalence, risk groups, latex allergens, the diagnostic approach, prevention, and treatment. Methodology A bibliographic review was carried out in January 2023 in the following databases: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Evidence-based Medicine, Canadian Medical Association, Practice Guidelines and National Guideline Clearinghouse. Content Repeated exposure to latex in an occupational context can lead to worker sensitivity, with a significant clinical and socio-economic impact. We summarize various aspects of this condition, such as prevalence, risk groups, latex allergens, the diagnostic approach, prevention and treatment. Discussion and Conclusions The history of latex allergies has demonstrated that potent allergens such as Natural Rubber Latex proteins can cause rapid immunoglobulin-E-mediated sensitization and clinical allergies, reaching serious proportions in highly exposed individuals. Occupational exposure has a decisive influence on the allergen sensitivity profile, with important clinical and therapeutic consequences. The effectiveness of secondary prevention measures is limited. Thus, it is essential to implement early primary prevention measures in individuals belonging to risk groups, to avoid or minimize exposure to latex allergens. KEYWORDS: Healthcare Professionals, Latex allergy, Latex gloves, Latex hypersensitivity, Natural rubber latex, Occupational diseases, Occupational health, Occupational Medicine.

Medical Waste Increase During COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia: A Meta-analysis

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence increased hospital admissions and caused a higher rate of medical waste. In this study, the status of medical wastes and recommended disinfecting methods were reviewed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. The published papers, library searching, and website browsing with no language restrictions were used to conduct this analytical-descriptive study before the pandemic until the early months of 2020. The results showed that generation rates of medical waste (GRMW), including surgical gloves, face masks, and the like increased by 10%, 12%, 23%, 28%, 97%, 425, and 1262% in Iran, Tehran, China, Malaysia, Dhaka, Wuhan, and King Abdullah University Hospital, respectively, in 2020 regarding the normal period without any pandemic. The capital or the most engaged city in each country produced higher GRMW compared with the whole country so that the GRMW in Iran, Bangladesh, and China were 13.2%, 29.2%, and 70.4% lower than that in Tehran, Dhaka, and Wuhan, respectively. The GRMW also indicated reverse trends with the number of hospital beds, population, and accumulated confirmed cases.

Investigation of maximum torque values in manual tightening of dental implant healing screws

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the change of the maximum torque values applied by the dentist according to the parameters of gender,dental experience and glove type used in the tightening processes applied manually by pre-graduated and post-graduated dentists to the implant superstructure parts. Methods: 24 dentists (11 Male, 13 Female) participated in our study.Participants were instructed to tighten the implant healing screw (Straumann Dental Implant System, Waldenberg, Switzerland) placed on the digital torque measuring device(Cap torque tester series TT01; Mark10, Copiague, NY)by applying maximum force with a manual wrench.Powdered latex gloves,powderfree latex gloves and sterile surgical gloves were made available to the participants in order to imitate the mouth conditions as much as possible.Manual tightening was repeated three times in each group,with at least three minutes duration. Data were recorded digitally and statistical analysis was performed with IBS SPSS statistics 22 program.Independent sample t-test and one-way Anova analysis were used to evaluate differences between groups, followed by the post-hoc Tukey test. Results: Maximum torque value for tightening with powdered latex gloves (20.01±5.55) N, powder free latex gloves (17.27± 4.34) N and surgical gloves (20.27±6.02) N was found.In addition, we did not find a statistically significant difference in terms of gender and dental experience,which are the other parameters we investigated. Conclusion: Gender, experience and glove type do not statistically affect the maximum torque to be applied in implant superstructure applications.

Uncovering the Efficacy and Safety of Powder-Free Latex Examination Gloves and Powder-Free Nitrile Examination Gloves: A Post-Market Clinical Follow-up Study

This study evaluated the safety and performance of latex examination gloves powder free and nitrile examination gloves powder free. A total of 361 subjects participated in the study, with 181 using latex examination gloves powder free and 180 using nitrile examination gloves powder free. The performance of latex examination gloves powder free was rated as "satisfactory" (3.8) and that of nitrile examination gloves powder free as "good" (4.1). Clinical safety parameter analysis of latex examination gloves powder free showed that 87% of the users reported that the gloves did not fit perfectly. This may be due to the wrong size selection of gloves by the users for the procedure. No safety-related issues were reported by any of the users. No new risks were identified from the study for the products, and there was no addition to the residual risks that had already been identified in the Risk Management Report. None of the users reported any infection under normal condition of use, and there were no serious adverse events or adverse events reported. Keywords: latex examination gloves powder free, nitrile examination gloves powder free, safety, performance, clinical safety, risk management