Protective Gloves Research Articles

Scalable Synthesis of Self‐Disinfecting Polycationic Coatings for Hospital Relevant Surfaces

AbstractThe prevention of microbial infections is a global challenge. Efficient antimicrobial coatings that rapidly kill microorganisms upon contact can help minimize their transmission. However, their scalable synthesis is challenging. This work demonstrates the scalable synthesis and characterization of self‐disinfecting nanofilms for the postmodification of hospital‐relevant surfaces. Their antimicrobial action is based on charge interactions between a supercharged cationic surface film and the negatively charged bacteria membrane. Photoinitiated bulk polymerization of an air‐dried [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride film on cotton (gowns), nitrile rubber (protective gloves), and glass surfaces (tables, screens) is used for their supercharging, and studied with streaming potential measurements. A 6 nm thick coating dominated by cationic quarternary amine groups is shown by a combination of spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Antimicrobial in vitro evaluation of the coated surfaces demonstrates up to ≈4 log reductions in bacterial populations in less than 5 min. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and live‐dead staining confirm the surface‐induced killing of bacteria. The coating's range of compatible materials and its rapid bactericidal activity can combat the surface transmission of bacteria and may help to contain the spread of infectious diseases. Its synthesis in environmental conditions is promising for integration into industrial processes.

Occupational Exposure to Pesticides as a Risk Factor for Sleep Disorders.

Inadequate sleep has been linked to a variety of impairments in bodily functions, including endocrine, metabolic, higher cortical function, and neurological disorders. For this reason, the aim of this study was to analyze the link between occupational pesticide exposure and sleep health among farmers in Almeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a population living on the coast of Almeria (southeastern Spain), where about 33,321 hectares of land are used for intensive agriculture in plastic greenhouses. A total of 380 individuals participated in the study: 189 greenhouse workers and 191 control subjects. The participants were contacted during their annual scheduled occupational health survey. Data on sleep disturbances were collected using the Spanish version of the Oviedo Sleep Questionnaire. Agricultural workers were found to be at a significantly higher risk of insomnia, especially among those who did not wear protective gloves (OR = 3.12; 95% C.I. = 1.93-3.85; p = 0.04) or masks (OR = 2.43; 95% C.I. = 1.19-4.96; p = 0.01). The highest risk of insomnia related to pesticide applicators was observed in those who did not wear a mask (OR = 4.19; 95% C.I. = 1.30-13.50; p = 0.01) or goggles (OR = 4.61; 95% C.I. = 1.38-10.40; p = 0.01). This study supports previous findings indicating an increased risk of sleep disorder in agricultural workers exposed to pesticides at work.

Functional Properties of Nonwovens as an Insulating Layer for Protective Gloves.

The basic intention of the present work is to analyze the influence of the incorporated microporous membrane and the technology of the needling process on the functional properties of nonwovens designed as an insulating layer for protective gloves for protection against high temperatures. The investigated nonwovens are produced in carded nonwoven formation and mechanically bonded with needle bonding. The studied nonwovens contain a microporous membrane of polyester (PES) with a thickness of 20 µm (samples marked as ST and STL). In the theoretical part of the research work, the nonwovens and some technology stages are presented. The experimental part of the present work deals with the mechanical properties: breaking stress and strain, viscoelastic properties (yield strength, elastic modulus) and elastic recovery after cyclic loading and thermal conduction. In the experimental part, permeability properties (water vapor permeability, air permeability) are also analyzed. The results of the investigation show that the samples marked as ST and STL, which contain a microporous PES membrane, have a higher breaking stress than the samples marked as T and TL without the microporous PES membrane. Samples marked as ST and STL also exhibit higher values of elongation at break and limit of recoverable deformation (stress and strain at yield) and a lower modulus of elasticity than samples marked as T and TL. The samples marked as ST and STL are mechanically bonded to the lamellar plate using forked needles and therefore have a textured (ribbed) shape that affects the improved mechanical properties. The TL and STL samples, which contain a microporous PES membrane, have higher elastic recovery and lower air permeability than the T and TL samples, while water vapor permeability is lower only for the ST sample.

Protective gloves, hand grip strength, and dexterity tests: A comprehensive study

Protective gloves can affect hand performance indicators (HPIs) like manual dexterity and hand grip. The present study was conducted to comprehensively and comparatively investigate several types of protective gloves and HPI assessment tools. Seventeen healthy men participated in this study. Four types of protective gloves, two structural firefighting and two general protective gloves, were investigated using four different dexterity tests and the bulb dynamometer. Structural firefighting gloves were significantly different in terms of dexterity, while there was no significant difference between general protective gloves. In contrast, firefighting gloves were not significantly different in terms of hand grip strength, while general protective gloves were significantly different in this regard. Among the four investigated tests, the hand tool dexterity test had the highest discrimination power. The negative effects of structural firefighting gloves on HPIs were higher than those of general protective gloves. A trade-off between safety requirements and hand performance is needed.

3D Hand Scanning Methodology for Determining Protective Glove Dimensional Allowances.

There are two types of dimensional allowance (inner and external) related to two distinct areas of occupational health and safety: those being a measure of fit of personal protective equipment (PPE) and those determining the safe and comfortable human interaction with tools and machines, e.g., the latter ones result from wearing PPE increasing the dimensions of the human body and generating limitations in the work environment. In this paper, they are taken to mean the difference between the dimensions of a bare and gloved hand (including glove construction and materials). Dimensional allowances are important in designing the work environment, e.g., machine control panels and tools. The absolute and relative maximum values of dimensional allowances determined in this study for a hand in a firefighter's protective glove for the main anthropometric data are: 16.90 mm (5.90%) for length, 12.00 mm (13.77%) for width, and 15.70 mm (7.96%) for circumference. The obtained results are useful for designers, and especially for designing keys on control panels and LCD touch displays and monitors integrated with machines.

Hydrostatic Penetration Testing of Protective Glove Materials Using Water and Synthetic Blood to Evaluate Hole Size and Screen Mesh Using an Automated Pressure Delivery System.

There are several international standards that address the resistance of chemical protective clothing materials to the penetration by liquids. The hydrostatic pressure has been documented to discriminate between protective clothing material performance and correlates with visual penetration results that are obtained with human factors validation. The same methodology, based on hydrostatic pressure equipment, is referenced also in other standards addressing penetration resistance of protective clothing and glove materials against synthetic blood or blood-borne pathogens. In this study, we present an automated hydrostatic penetration testing that integrates testing procedures from several standards to evaluate the resistance of materials to penetration by liquids under pressure. The automated control system allows the user to select a specific test method and automatically sets a stepped pressurization protocol to test the material. A pass or a fail result is produced at a certain time and pressure. As an example of application, the penetration of synthetic blood was assessed through gloves made from different materials with ISO 16603, method B, one of the five possible penetration methods and protocols available in the test equipment. The results indicate that the developed system facilitates the application of test methods used to evaluate the barrier effectiveness against liquids of materials used for protective clothing and gloves and show up that the characteristics of the retention grid used have a decisive influence on the test results. In some of the tested glove materials, holes were intentionally performed with needles with different gauges. The capacity of pinhole detection in gloves was evaluated according to the test method selected and compared with results obtained with the classic water leak test method for gloves described in EN ISO 374-2.

Evaluation of Potential Low-stress Handling Methods in Crl:CDSD Rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Low-stress handling methods have been studied in detail in mice, but relatively little research exists concerning preferred handling methods in rats. Most recommendations for low-stress handling of rats have been extrapolated from the mouse literature, despite known differences in handler interaction between the 2 species. The goal of the current study was to evaluate common methods of handling in rats, including application of recognized, low-stress handling methods from other species to rats, in order to determine relative stress levels associated with the handling methods. Seventy male and 70 female, 8-wk-old, Crl:CDSD rats, were housed either individually or in pairs, and were handled weekly or daily using one of the following methods: encircling of the torso (standard thoracic hold), handled using a tunnel, handled using a protective bite glove, handled using a soft paper towel, or tickled prior to being handled by the torso ( n = 10 per sex per treatment group). Body weight and clinical observations were scored at each handling session, abbreviated functional observation batteries were performed every other week, and an interaction test and hematology were conducted prior to study and on the day of study termination. Rats that were socially housed and handled weekly using the standard thoracic hold showed the least evidence of stress, while those that were singly housed and handled weekly using a protective bite glove or tunnel showed the highest level of stress. These effects were predominantly seen in males. This study suggests that standard low-stress handling methods used for other species may not be optimal for rats, and that additional research is needed to identify alternative methods to the standard thoracic hold that would further reduce stress during handling in rats.

Globale Warenketten und Versorgungsengpässe in Österreich mit Medizinprodukten in der COVID-19-Pandemie

The COVID-19 Pandemic led to a strong increase in demand for medical products. At the same time, supply problems in international supply chains kicked in due to health policy interventions (e.g., lockdowns) and economic policy measures (e.g., export controls). Combined, both resulted in temporary shortages and triggered a controversial discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of globalised production structures, which led to strong dependencies on a few, primarily Asian, locations and producers. Against this background and based on case studies for Austria, the article deals with the question which factors determine the robustness of global commodity chains for respirators, protective gloves and respiratory equipment and which national and European policies could be suitable for increasing resilience in the supply of medical products.

Botanical Briefs: Daffodils (Narcissus Species).

Daffodils (Narcissus species) are the most common cause of irritant contact dermatitis among florists. Calcium oxalate crystals contained in the sap of the daffodil plants lead to irritant contact dermatitis on the skin. Daffodil rash commonly presents with fissuring, scaling, and erythema of the fingertips, hands, and forearms. The best preventative measure is to wear appropriate protective gloves and clothing.

Intelligent system-based stun gloves for women's protection

In recent times, the security of women and girls has become a major concern in urban areas in many countries. To assist with settling this issue, this paper proposes a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based Stun Gloves for women with many safety techniques. The basic operation of this prototype design is that whenever women detect danger, they can simply press the gadget's ON button. When the gadget becomes active, it will track the online position of women using GPS and send an emergency message using the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) to the currently enlisted portable number and the police control room. These security Stun Gloves have both an alarm and a shock provider circuit. The heartbeat rate and temperature are also shown on a connected Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The heartbeat sensor can detect any unusual heart rate patterns and send the woman's current location via GPS to the rescue team or pre-registered mobile number in the form of a Short Message Service (SMS). Likewise, in the case of self-protection, this gadget is incorporated with a shock generator. This safety precaution can be taken by women in case of any emergency crisis, which a female can use against a person. The main benefit of the design of Stun Gloves is that this gadget is compact and easy to use by any woman.

Leptospirosis outbreak in Tanzania amidst COVID-19 pandemic: current challenges and future recommendations.

Leptospirosis outbreak in Tanzania amidst COVID-19 pandemic: current challenges and future recommendations.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Nitrile Gloves Exposed to Chemical Germicide on Medical Devices in Central Sterile Services Department

Nitrile gloves are commonly used in Central Sterile Services Department in order to be often used when manually cleaning medical equipment such as personal protective equipment. As a result they are resistant to a wide range of chemicals and germicides, including alcohols, peroxides, and other sterilizing agents. In addition to providing chemical protection, nitrile gloves are resistant to punctures and tears, which is important when working with sharp medical instruments. This research focuses on the efficacy of gloves in relation to the multi-chemicals or compounds of nitrile gloves and observation at the point of use to remove soil and contact with chemicals on medical devices at the Central Sterile Supply Department. The powder-free nitrile exam gloves and extended cuff methods of chemical analysis of permeation testing of standard practice for assessment of resistance of medical gloves to permeation by chemotherapy drugs (ASTM D 6978-05), EN455 Part 1: 2000 were used to test the test method for single-use medical gloves. The standard of protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and microorganisms was tested by EN 420:2003 + A1:2009, EN388: 2016, ISO 374-1:2016, and ISO 374-5:2016. The testing of chemotherapy drugs and UV/NIS absorption spectrometry were used to measure the absorbance of test chemicals, which permeated through the specimens into the collection medium. The collection medium was circulated in a closed loop at an 11 ml/minute flow rate through the testing period. As a result, a glove user must protect against the specific chemicals or chemical mixtures to which they were exposed while manually cleaning medical devices. The physical properties of the gloves were evaluated by visual observations at the point of use for soil removal and chemical exposure to medical devices at the Central Sterile Supply Department of five hospitals. The results showed that nitrile gloves protected chemical exposure during manual cleaning of medical equipment at the point of use.

An update on permeation of protective medical gloves by antineoplastic drugs

Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs (ADs) handling and administration is one of the main risks in the healthcare sector. Dermal absorption represents the primary route of exposure to ADs. Personal preventive equipment, especially medical gloves, is crucial to safeguard the workers health in ADs handling; thus, chemicals permeating through protective materials is an essential aspect to estimate and consider. Several studies on permeation through medical gloves reported that breakthrough time and permeation rate are the values that must be studied, observing that physical-chemical properties of drugs, PPE materials and thickness, and temperature are crucial features to estimate them. In the European Union, standardized permeation testing is not mandatory for gloves used in ADs manipulation, in contrast with the United States, that proposed stringent requirements in the American Society of Testing and Materials International standard D6978-05. This review would help identify the main characteristics of the best protective glove used by employees frequently exposed to ADs: the major aspects implicated in permeation, reported in the literature, are listed and discussed.

Aetiology of occupational hand eczema in hairdressers: Tackling the complexity of exposure combinations to identify patterns associated with increased risk of hand eczema.

Hairdressers are exposed to wet work and manifold allergens at work, rendering exposure complex and the aetiology of occupational hand eczema (OHE) often multifactorial in this occupational group. To identify exposure patterns associated with increased risk of hand eczema in hairdressers. All hairdressers graduating from 2004 to 2007 and 2015 to 2018 received a questionnaire in 2009 and 2020, respectively. Current exposures (with or without regular glove use) and OHE were self-reported, and their association examined. Patterns of exposure were identified by latent class analysis (LCA). A total response of 39.9% (668/1675) was obtained. Six exposure profiles (#1-6) were identified by LCA across 11 tasks performed with or without gloves as well as deep conditioning, that is, 23 task items. Compared to profile #1 with the lowest OHE risk (reference) an increased risk of current OHE were seen in profile #4 [adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-44.8 and #6 (aOR 39.4, 95%CI 6.1-362.8)] in logistic regression analysis. Profile #1 and #6 had performed the same tasks, but in profile #6 regular glove use was performed in 9.1% (1/ 11) of tasks compared to 72.7% (8/11) of tasks in profile #1 (p= 0.002). Although occupational exposures in hairdressing are complex, meaningful patterns associated with a wide range of OHE risk can be identified by LCA. The increase of OHE risk seems predominantly to be due to poor compliance with protective gloves. LCA could be applied to further fields of complex (skin) exposures.

Dermal measurement of exposure to plant protection products: Actual hand exposure from hand washing vs. wearing cotton gloves.

For the authorization of plant protection products, a quantitative non-dietary exposure risk assessment relies on established dermal exposure models, measured mainly using passive dosimetry. Exposure to the hands is determined via hand washing or using cotton gloves as a surrogate for skin. This study compared both methods using operator exposure data available from the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM) project report. These data indicate that hand exposure determined using cotton gloves resulted in markedly higher exposure values for all exposure scenarios compared to those determined by hand washes. One explanation for this is that dermal uptake of the residues reduces the amount of residue that can be recovered by hand washing. Uncertainty due to dermal uptake can be addressed by either default assumptions or by specific dermal absorption data. However, this cannot solely account for the large difference observed between the values and is mainly likely to be due to the higher capacity of the cotton gloves vs. human skin to retain residues. The results further indicate that the variability between hand wash samples and cotton glove samples differs between the exposure scenarios. Hence, the level of conservatism related to the use of cotton gloves as surrogate skin remains unknown. In conclusion, this evaluation of the AOEM data indicates that the cotton glove method results in much higher levels of measured hand exposure than the hand wash method. It cannot be excluded that dermal uptake has contributed to that result. However, the findings suggest the higher retention capacity of cotton gloves vs. human skin to be the main impact parameter. The cotton glove method does not provide the results with regards to the protection level that can be expected from the use of protective gloves. Therefore, we believe that the application of the hand wash method is a more accurate measure of exposure levels, if either specific dermal absorption data or, in its absence, default assumptions are applied as adjustment factor.

A 7-segment numerical hand-glove/mitten model for predicting thermophysiological responses of the human hand in extremely cold conditions

A 7-segment and 29-node numerical hand-glove/mitten model was developed to simulate human hand physiological responses in various cold environments. To validate the model, simulated skin temperatures were compared to data from published literature and human trials conducted at −20, −40, and −60 °C. Results demonstrated that the model could reasonably predict cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) responses at 0 °C temperature. At −20 °C, the model predicted skin temperature with the root mean square deviation (RMSD) falling within the measurement standard deviation (SD) for both the entire and local hand except for the posterior hand. At −40 and −60 °C, the model could predict the trend of the skin temperatures of the whole/local hand, but the RMSD was larger than the SD for the majority of predictions. A parametric analysis revealed that the palm and posterior hand had higher skin temperatures than the fingers, while the thumb had the lowest skin temperature of the fingers in all simulated cases except the case with a 3.5 clo mitten at −60 °C. The proposed numerical hand-glove/mitten model could reasonably predict local hand physiological responses in three extremely cold environments and provides fundamental knowledge for cold stress prediction and protective glove development, thereby improving the safety and health of industrial workers, firefighters, first responders, and troops.

Prevalence, risk factors, and prevention of occupational contact dermatitis among professional cleaners: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention of occupational contact dermatitis (OCD), as well as risk factors and consequences of OCD among professional cleaners. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was performed using Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Thirty-nine studies containing over 109.000 participants were included in the review. The prevalence of OCD varied between 2.2% and 30.1%. Main occupational risk factors for developing OCD among cleaners included wet work and irritants in cleaning products (bleach, chlorine, ammonia, multi-use-cleaning) and skin contact to metal. The most common contact allergies included rubber, biocides, nickel/cobalt, and perfumes. Other risk factors were inconsistent use of protective gloves and low educational level. Consequences associated with OCD included significant impairment in quality of life, tendency to have unscheduled absence from work, sick leave, increased rate of disability, and recognized degree of injury. Only one prevention study has been published investigating the effect of an educative course in skin-protective behavior in cleaners. The study reported a higher degree of knowledge of skin protection, a decrease in the severity of hand eczema, and a shift toward fewer daily hand washings at follow-up after 3months. Our study proves that OCD is common in cleaners, and the main risk factors included wet work, irritants, and contact allergies, as well as inconsistent use of protective gloves and low educational level. More focus and a greater number of studies are needed on skin protection in this population.

Evaluation of laser texturing in fabricating cut-resistant surfaces for protective gloves

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of laser texturing of coated textile materials on their cut resistance. The investigated material was an aramid knitted fabric coated with a polymer layer made of an acrylic-styrene dispersion functionalized with particles of silicon carbide (SiC). The distribution of SiC particles in the coating microstructure was assessed on the basis of microscopic observations (scanning electron microscopy). The coating was laser textured, and then the cut resistance of the assembly was determined using a rectangular blade. The findings showed that laser texturing improved the cut resistance of the tested materials, causing a fourfold increase in that parameter as compared to non-modified textile materials. This fact may improve the safety of workers wearing protective gloves in terms of cut protection.

Current Evidence Demonstrates That Monkeypox Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection.

Current Evidence Demonstrates That Monkeypox Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection.

Rubber-like and biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) composites with triple networks for high-efficiency solvent barrier

To meet the sustainable development goals, developing soft materials with rubber-like elasticity, superior solvent barrier property, and biodegradability are highly desired for chemical protective coatings. Herein, biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based elastomers with excellent solvent barrier property and high elasticity are fabricated by using a water-soluble polyamide-amine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin as a green crosslinker for the carboxyl modified PVA (PVA-C) matrix. It is found that PAE can crosslink the carboxyl PVA chains effectively to form a chemically crosslinked network and the slight crystallization of carboxyl PVA contributes to the physical crosslinking network. Moreover, the high loading of kaolinite filler constitutes the filler networks. Benefiting from the collaborative triple networks, as-prepared PVA composites demonstrated excellent elastomer behavior, showing a full recovery to their original state even after 103 times of stretching-releasing. Furthermore, its application as a chemical protective glove demonstrated the highly efficient barrier against various chemical solvents permeation accordant with the highest level-6 of EN374 standard, and its degradation rate is over 20% after a 120-days natural soil burial test.