Types Of Gloves Research Articles

Rubber Gloves Redux

In 2010, I wrote an article for the Proceedings entitled “Caroline Hampton Halsted: the first to use rubber gloves in the operating room.” Since then, some additional information has come to light. When The Johns Hopkins Hospital opened in 1889, Caroline moved to Baltimore and was eventually appointed chief nurse of the operating room by Dr. William Halsted, soon to become the first surgeon in chief at Johns Hopkins. The specialty of operating room nursing emerged in 1889 at Hopkins, partly the result of an attempt to pacify two feuding nurses. Isabel Hampton (no relation to Caroline), a Canadian and graduate of Bellevue Hospital nursing school, came to Baltimore from Cook County Hospital and was selected over Caroline and two other candidates for the position of superintendent (or director) of hospital nursing; she was also charged with organizing a school of nursing. Caroline was appointed initially as head nurse of the surgical division. There is some disagreement about what happened between them. One report stated that “an intense animosity existed because Caroline, a Southerner, disliked taking orders from Isabel, a Canadian.” Also, Caroline herself had hoped to get the job of nursing superintendent. But Halsted came to the rescue and appointed Caroline supervisor of the operating room to relieve some of the tension. Caroline became Dr. Halsted's scrub nurse but soon developed a severe contact dermatitis of her hands, which led to Halsted's request of the Goodyear Rubber Company to make for her special rubber gloves, which were successful. Halsted and Caroline were quickly engaged and later married in 1890. Halsted did not invent rubber gloves. Actually, 132 years previously in 1767, obstetric gloves made from sheep intestines were used for vaginal exams and deliveries by a German physician, J. J. Walbaum. Also, in the 1840s, gloves were used for postmortem exams, and Dr. William Welch at Hopkins may have used gloves for autopsies. In 1844, Charles Goodyear patented his discovery of “vulcanization” of rubber, allowing surgical gloves to become lighter but also stronger and more flexible. At Johns Hopkins after 1890, Dr. Halsted didn't start wearing gloves himself at first. They were used by nurses and assistants but rarely by the doctors (except for open bone and joint operations). Halsted's paper, “The treatment of wounds,” was published in Johns Hopkins Hospital Reports in 1891 and mentioned, for the first time, the use of “thin rubber gloves by the assistant who passes the instruments.” Dr. Joseph Bloodgood, Halsted's protege who came to Hopkins in 1892, was later the director of surgical pathology and started using gloves himself during surgery in 1893. He said, “What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.” Bloodgood later published a report of over 450 hernia operations with a near 100% drop in the infection rate by using gloves. Halsted was convinced and later asked, “Why was I so blind not to have perceived the necessity for wearing them all the time?” Dr. Hunter Robb, a gynecologist at Johns Hopkins, was another Halsted associate who pioneered the use of rubber gloves and published a book, Aseptic Surgical Technique, in 1894. He married Isabel Hampton, the chief nurse who clashed with Caroline, and they moved to Western Reserve University. By the turn of the century, there was a near-uniform adoption of rubber gloves as an operating room accessory. Since then, gloves have evolved and become more flexible and better fitting. In 2004, Barza from Tufts University School of Medicine described a new type of disposable glove that emits chlorine dioxide when exposed to light or moisture and kills potentially harmful microbes. Glove use has skyrocketed. Some health care workers go through dozens of pairs in a single day. There are sterile and nonsterile gloves made of latex, vinyl, nitrile, and other synthetics. Gloves may be powdered or powder free. The advent of AIDS has revolutionized the way hospitals treat infection control. The last century has seen a 360-degree turn in the reason why gloves are used in the operating room: Initially to protect staff from corrosive substances and from infections such as syphilis Later to also protect patients from contamination by the staff, thus reducing operative and wound infections Finally to also protect staff from bloodborne or needle-stick infections In 2008, Johns Hopkins and other hospitals abandoned latex gloves because of possible allergic reactions. There is apparently a 10% incidence of latex allergy in the general population.

Fundamentos sobre o conhecimento dos aditivos químicos presentes nas luvas de borracha

One of the most frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis of occupational origin are rubber additives, which are present in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The most allergenic additives of natural and synthetic gloves are thiurams, carbamates and mercapto group. To investigate the state of knowledge about the chemical additives used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber gloves. This was a qualitative research study in which professionals working in the manufacture, research, prescription and commercialization of gloves answered an open questionnaire. 30 individuals were interviewed: 4 researchers in occupational medicine, 5 occupational physicians, 2 occupational safety technicians, a rubber workers' union physician, an occupational safety engineer, a pro duction engineer of rubber gloves, 4 importers of gloves, a manufacturer of gloves, 3 businessmen who sell PPE, 3 salesclerks working in stores that sell PPE, 2 businessmen who own stores that sell products for allergic individuals, and 3 dermatologists. Knowledge of the chemical composition of rubber gloves is scant. The labeling of gloves, with the description of their chemical composition, would facilitate choosing the best type of glove for each person. This low-cost action to businesses would be a gain from the standpoint of public health, with huge repercussions for users of rubber gloves.

Anthropometry and hand performance evaluation of minority population

The goal of this research was to evaluate the hand anthropometrics and hand performances of the US minority population. This study had three specific objectives (1) to evaluate the anthropometrics of the US minority population and understand their variability within the general US population (2) to evaluate performance variation of the minority population for different hand conditions and (3) to develop models for a set of performance measures using the anthropometry of the upper extremity. Fifteen subjects from each of Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Indians and Vietnamese population groups participated in this study. Hand length, hand breadth, upper-arm length, forearm length, arm length and hand volume were the anthropometrics recorded. Hand performance dimensions including dexterity, tactility, manipulability, grip strength and a set of functional tasks were measured for bare hand and gloved (cotton, Kevlar, leather and vinyl) hand conditions. Anthropometric evaluations determined a significant effect of ethnicity and gender on hand length, forearm length, arm length and hand volume. Anthropometric comparisons determined that the ethnic groups represented different percentiles within the US population. Performance evaluations determined a significant effect of ethnicity, gender and glove type on the hand performances of the Minority population. The best models were obtained for grip strength as compared to dexterity and manipulability. More validation is required before generalizing the findings of this study. Relevance to industry While a number of studies have established differences in anthropometry among different ethnic populations, very few studies have addressed their effect on performance. This study provides fundamental information on the anthropometrics and its effect on hand performance of the minority population in US. The findings of this study will assist engineers to consider personnel variations (anthropometry and performance) to improve productivity. Hence it is very relevant to the industry.

Development of a test method for protective gloves against nanoparticles in conditions simulating occupational use

Nanoparticle manufacture and use are in full expansion. The associated risks of occupational exposure raise large concerns due to their potential toxicity. Even if they stand as a last resort in the traditional occupational Health & Safety (H&S) risk management strategy, personal protective equipment (PPE) against nanoparticles are an absolute need in the context of precautionary principle advocated by H&S organizations worldwide. However no standard test method is currently available for evaluating the efficiency of PPE against nanoparticles, in particular in the case of gloves. A project is thus underway to develop a test method for measuring nanoparticle penetration through protective gloves in conditions simulating glove-nanoparticle occupational interaction.The test setup includes an exposure and a sampling chamber separated by a circular glove sample. A system of cylinders is used to deform the sample while it is exposed to nanoparticles. The whole system is enclosed in a glove box to ensure the operator safety during assembly, dismounting and clean-up operations as well as during the tests. Appropriate nanoparticle detection techniques were also identified.Results are reported here for commercial 15nm TiO2 nanoparticles - powder and colloidal solutions in 1,2-propanediol, ethylene glycol and water - and four types of protective gloves: disposable nitrile and latex as well as unsupported neoprene and butyl rubber gloves. They show that mechanical deformations and contact with colloidal solution liquid carriers may affect glove materials. Preliminary results obtained with TiO2 powder indicate a possible penetration of nanoparticles through gloves following mechanical deformations.

Glovebox glove dexterity comparison

Programmatic operations at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Plutonium Facility (TA-55) involve working with various amounts of plutonium and other highly toxic, alpha-emitting materials. The spread of radiological contamination on surfaces, airborne contamination, and excursions of contaminants into the operator's breathing zone are prevented through the use of a variety of gloveboxes (the glovebox, coupled with an adequate negative pressure gradient, provides primary confinement). The glovebox gloves are the weakest part of this engineering control and also result in decreased dexterity. The two main types of glovebox gloves used at TA-55 are made from chlorosulphonated polyethylene (CSM) and CSM with an inner lead oxide layer. In an effort to strengthen glovebox gloves, Polyurethane has been added to the formulations. Experiments have been conducted on three models of Polyurethane/CSM glovebox gloves (13-mil, 20-mil, 22-mil) as well as Polyurethane-Nonhaz Shielding-CSM, 4X attenuation glovebox gloves. The Polyurethane-Nonhaz Shielding-CSM, 4X attenuation glovebox gloves are a non-hazardous substitute for the CSM with an inner lead oxide layer glovebox gloves. The Polyurethane formulations are compared to the gloves currently used at TA-55 with respect to dexterity and its effect on the outcome of any task performance. The objective of this research is to study the effect of the gloves currently used at TA-55 vs. Polyurethane formulations on task performance. In conclusion, replacement of gloves currently in use at TA-55 with Polyurethane formulations improves the safety configuration of the glovebox system by reducing the glovebox workers risks of ergonomic injuries and internally deposited radionuclides and eliminating mixed waste generation. Process improvements of this type contribute to an organization's scientific and technological excellence by increasing its operational safety.

Integrity of Disposable Nitrile Exam Gloves Exposed to Simulated Movement

Every year, millions of health care, first responder, and industry workers are exposed to chemical and biological hazards. Disposable nitrile gloves are a common choice as both a chemical and physical barrier to these hazards, especially as an alternative to natural latex gloves. However, glove selection is complicated by the availability of several types or formulations of nitrile gloves, such as low-modulus, medical grade, low filler, and cleanroom products. This study evaluated the influence of simulated movement on the physical integrity (i.e., holes) of different nitrile exam glove brands and types. Thirty glove products were evaluated out-of-box and after exposure to simulated whole-glove movement for 2 hr. In lieu of the traditional 1 L water-leak test, a modified water-leak test, standardized to detect a 0.15 ± 0.05 mm hole in different regions of the glove, was developed. A specialized air inflation method simulated bidirectional stretching and whole-glove movement. A worst-case scenario with maximum stretching was evaluated. On average, movement did not have a significant effect on glove integrity (chi-square; p = 0.068). The average effect was less than 1% between no movement (1.5%) and movement (2.1%) exposures. However, there was significant variability in glove integrity between different glove types (p ≤ 0.05). Cleanroom gloves, on average, had the highest percentage of leaks, and 50% failed the water-leak test. Low-modulus and medical grade gloves had the lowest percentages of leaks, and no products failed the water-leak test. Variability in polymer formulation was suspected to account for the observed discrepancies, as well as the inability of the traditional 1 L water-leak test to detect holes in finger/thumb regions. Unexpectedly, greater than 80% of the glove defects were observed in the finger and thumb regions. It is recommended that existing water-leak tests be re-evaluated and standardized to account for product variability.

Infection Rates of Wound Repairs During Mohs Micrographic Surgery Using Sterile Versus Nonsterile Gloves: A Prospective Randomized Pilot Study

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a multistep outpatient procedure that has become the treatment of choice for the removal of many cutaneous malignancies. The surgeon initially removes the tumor with nonsterile gloves in MMS. Sterile or nonsterile gloves are then used during the final repairs. This prospective patient-blinded single-institution pilot study was performed to evaluate whether there is a difference in infection rate when using clean, nonsterile gloves versus sterile gloves during tumor removal and the wound repair phases of MMS. This study randomized 60 patients undergoing MMS. Data on age, sex, anatomic location, number of Mohs stages, closure type, size of final defect, operative time, number of pairs of gloves used, and type of glove used were recorded and evaluated. Three infections were identified. Two infections occurred in the sterile glove arm and one in the clean glove arm. Overall, there was no greater infection rate when using clean, nonsterile gloves than sterile gloves (p=.99). Our study supports the use of clean, nonsterile gloves as a safe alternative to sterile gloves during all steps of MMS, at a significant cost savings. A larger confirmatory study comparing the equivalence in infection rates between clean and sterile gloves is warranted.

The influence of glove and hand position on pressure over the ulnar nerve during cycling

Background Chronic ulnar nerve compression is believed to be the primary cause of sensory and motor impairments of the hand in cyclists, a condition termed Cyclist's Palsy. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effects that hand position and glove type can have on pressure over the ulnar nerve, specifically in the hypothenar region of the hand. Methods Thirty-six experienced cyclists participated. Subjects rode at a constant cadence and power output on a stationary bicycle with their hands in the tops, drops and hoods of a standard drop handlebar. A high resolution pressure mat was used to record hand pressure with no gloves, unpadded gloves, foam-padded gloves and gel-padded gloves. Wrist posture was simultaneously monitored with a motion capture system. Laser scans of the subject's hand were separately acquired to register pressure maps onto the hand anatomy. Findings Average peak hypothenar pressures of 134–165 kPa were recorded when cyclists did not wear gloves. A drops hand position induced the greatest hypothenar pressure and most extended wrist posture. Padded gloves were able to reduce hypothenar pressure magnitudes by 10 to 28%, with slightly better pressure reduction achieved using thin foam padding. Interpretation The hand pressure magnitudes and loading patterns seen in steady-state cycling are of sufficient magnitude to induce ulnar nerve damage if maintained for long periods. Wearing padded gloves and changing hand position can reduce the magnitude and duration of loading patterns, which are both important to mitigate risk for Cyclist's Palsy during extended rides.

The Effect of Vibration Reduction on the Anti-vibration Gloves Made of Different Materials

PP-29-186 Background/Aims: Hand-transmitted vibration contributes to injury of the vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems and is harmful for job performance of workers. In a survey of impact wrench users working in a Korean automobile assembly line, all workers did not use anti-vibration gloves at work. Of them, 70% had not experienced anti-vibration gloves; and 83.3% of the workers usually used a cotton glove, a rubber-coated cotton glove, and combination of cotton and rubber coating gloves instead of anti-vibration glove. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the suitability of anti-vibration gloves, cotton glove, and rubber-coated glove by using, on the basis of vibration transmissibility in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10819, and to examine the effect of vibration reduction on the anti-vibration gloves made of different materials. Methods: This study targeted 24 anti-vibration gloves, 4 types of a cotton glove, a rubber-coated glove, and combination of cotton and rubber coating gloves. This paper uses 2 ISO standards for the measurement and evaluation of hand-arm vibration. Some anti-vibration gloves can attenuate vibration, but all the anti-vibration gloves in this study do not satisfy the ISO 10819 requirements. In case of equal vibration types, the outside materials are effective in order of leather, fabrics, and rubber-coating, according to the ISO 5349 standard. Results: As a result of frequency analysis, the most effective material for vibration attenuation are sponge at 10 Hz or below. Rubber material is effective at 100 Hz or upper. The most effective material for vibration attenuation is gel, sponge, and rubber at whole frequency range. Conclusion: In case of wearing the gloves, the vibration peak fell down from twice to 8 times, so workers can use vibration tools for more than 8 hours.

Development of a Permeation Panel to Test Dermal Protective Clothing Against Sprayed Coatings

Design, construct, and characterize an apparatus to evaluate dermal protective clothing for resistance to polymerizing materials. Specifically, we evaluated the permeation of the most common glove material used in automotive collision repair (0.10-0.13 mm or 4-5 mil latex) with representative isocyanate-containing clear coats. Our ultimate goal is to make informed recommendations on dermal protective materials to prevent isocyanate exposures and reduce the likelihood of occupational illness in automotive collision repair and other industries. A novel permeation panel was developed to assess dermal protective clothing. With this apparatus, up to eight test materials may be evaluated under typical-spray application conditions. Solid collection media comprised of 1-(2-pyridyl)-piperazine (2-PP)-coated fiberglass filters or colorimetric SWYPE™ pads were placed behind test materials to capture permeants. The 2-PP-coated filters were subsequently analyzed using a modified OSHA42/PV2034 method. Color change in the SWYPEs provided an immediate field estimate of breakthrough time. In addition, Teflon filters were mounted proximal to the permeation cells to measure the mass of clear coat applied to the panel and to evaluate loading homogeneity. This study evaluated the permeation of isocyanates through 0.10-0.13 mm latex glove material at a fixed time (30 min post-spraying) and over a time course (6-91 min post-spraying). Monomers 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) permeated through (0.10-0.13 mm) latex glove material under typical glove use conditions (30 min). The latex glove material exhibited immediate breakthrough, with a permeation rate of 2.9 ng min(-1) cm(-2). The oligomeric forms of HDI and IPDI did not permeate the latex glove material. The spray application at 71 ± 5 °F was fairly homogeneous (33.7 ± 8 mg weight of dry clear coat per 5 cm(2)). The permeation panel is a viable method to assess dermal protective clothing performance against polymerizing materials. Thin (0.10-0.13 mm) latex gloves were determined to be ineffective barriers to the isocyanates commonly found in clear coats. Because this type of glove is used frequently in auto body shops, the potential for isocyanate exposure is of concern. Permeation tests with other dermal protective clothing materials and other clear coat formulations are needed to make recommendations about alternative materials.

Short and longer duration effects of protective gloves on hand performance capabilities and subjective assessments in a screw-driving task

The study investigated short and longer duration effects of gloves on hand performance capabilities (muscle activity, dexterity, touch sensitivity, finger pinch and forearm torque strength) and subjective assessments of discomfort and ease of manipulation when performing a light assembly task. The independent variables were hand condition with four levels (wearing cotton, nylon or nitrile gloves as well as barehanded) and point of time within the 2 h duration of the task (with measurements taken at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min). Participants worked with a screwdriver to fit two components together using screws. Wearing gloves significantly increased the muscle activity, pinch strength and discomfort but reduced the dexterity and touch sensitivity. There was also a significant effect of task time on the muscle activity, dexterity, forearm torque strength and touch sensitivity, which indicates that the duration of the task should be an important consideration in glove evaluation studies and in the selection of work gloves. Statement of Relevance:It is important to evaluate the effects of gloves on hand performance capabilities in a working context so that job demands can be taken into account and the most appropriate type of glove be chosen for each task. This study gives recommendations regarding the evaluation and use of gloves for screw-driving tasks.

Hands-on defibrillation: How well would medical examination gloves protect rescuers from defibrillation voltages?

Purpose: Hands-on defibrillation can reduce pauses in chest compressions during CPR, but how safe is it? Common biphasic defibrillation shocks range from 1400 to 2800 V; monophasic defibrillators can go to 5000 V. Safety of a rescuer contacting the patient during these shocks is determined by (1) the fraction of the shock voltage presented to the rescuer, and (2) the breakdown voltage of the rescuer's gloves. Neither has been adequately investigated. We determined the electrical breakdown voltage for medical examination gloves. Methods: We used a dielectric analyzer to apply an increasing voltage ramp to each glove until an electrical arc occurred, current flow exceeded a pre-defined limit, or 5000 V was reached. Four glove polymers were tested in single-layer and double-layer configurations with current limits of 0.1 mA (based on existing leakage current standards) or 10 mA (threshold for glove breakdown and significant injury potential) for a total of 320 measurements. Results:Tabled 1Glove breakdown voltages minimum, median, nPolymerSingle layerDouble layer0.1mA10mA0.1 mALatex3000 V, 5000 V, 402502 V, 4252 V, 20–Chloroprene2250 V, 2986 V, 402998 V, 3321 V, 20–Nitrile811 V, 1575 V, 401745 V, 3221 V, 202092 V, 2453 V, 40Vinyl604 V, 972 V, 401873 V, 3995 V, 20789 V, 965 V, 40 Open table in a new tab Of the single gloves tested, 0% latex, 29% chloroprene, 100% nitrile and 100% vinyl gloves exceeded leakage current standards at or below 2800 V. In addition, 10% latex, 0% chloroprene, 8% nitrile, and 8% vinyl gloves permitted current levels that could allow significant rescuer injury. Conclusions: The voltages at which leakage current standards were exceeded or electrical breakdown occurred varied considerably between glove types. The other factor affecting safety, the fraction of shock voltage presented to the rescuer, may be difficult to assess. Until this fraction is firmly established it may be prudent to use gloves designed to withstand the maximum defibrillator output voltage.

Factors Related to Occupational Contact Dermatitis on Workers Exposed to Chemicals used at Industrial Automotive Company

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Occupational contact dermatitis is one of skin disease in industrial settings which may reduce worker productivities. The occupational contact dermatitis occurs when workers are come into contact with chemicals at part of the worker’s body. This chemical contact could lead to an occupational contact dermatitis. The objective of this research is to investigate factors related to the occupational contact dermatitis at the worker who come into contact with chemicals used in industrial automotive company in Indonesia, Cibitung Jawa Barat. The study design is a descriptive research. The research subjects were selected using a stratified random sampling, and the total subjects were 54 person. The data were collected based on physical examination by a medical doctor, and the research questionnaire. Result from this study indicated that 74% (40 workers) experience dermatitis contact: acute dermatitis contact 26% (14 workers), sub acute 39% (21 workers), and chronic 9% (5 workers). Furthermore, data analysis using a multivariate statistical analysis indicated that there are three major factors related to the occurence of contact dermatitis: duration of contact, frequency of contact and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) particularly gloves. In conclusion, incidence rate of occupational dermatitis contact at industrial setting is 65%/100 worker, and prevalence rate of occupational dermatitis contact at industrial setting is 74%/100 worker. In order to minimize the occupational contact dermatitis it is recommended to raise the workers awareness, the correct type of gloves used specifically to the type of chemicals, as well as improving the workers knowledge.

FP1.4 Effect of disposable glove type upon the cross-transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background: Whilst disposable gloves can protect the hands of healthcare workers from acquiring bacteria during patient care, the glove surface itself can become heavily contaminated. Information regarding the effect of glove material on cross-transmission is limited. Aim: To assess the ease with which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is transferred from different glove materials to a range of environmental surfaces. Methods: Eight gloves were selected on the basis of material (latex, nitrile, vinyl) and/or protein content. The forefinger of each was inoculated with MRSA in the presence or absence of a simulated body fluid and immediately pressed onto a pre-sanitised test surface (bed rail, storage drawer, computer keyboard) for 10 seconds. The number of bacteria transferred to the surface was determined via swabbing and the mean transfer rate (n = 10) from glove to surface calculated. Results: In the absence of body fluids, the transfer rate from nitrile gloves (with accelerator) to any of the test surfaces was <1%; significantly lower than that from latex, vinyl or accelerator-free nitrile gloves (p< 0.05). Highest transfer (19.5%) was from gloves comprising <50mg/g latex protein. Gloves comprising lower levels of protein (<10mg/g) transferred significantly fewer bacteria. The presence of proteinaceous organic soil significantly increased bacterial transfer from all glove types to the drawer and keyboard. The highest transfer (44%) was associated with accelerator-free nitrile gloves. Transfer to the bed rail was highest from gloves contaminated with blood and ranged from 29.4% to 50.5%; the greater the hydrophobicity of the glove material, the greater the number of bacteria transferred. Conclusion: Disposable glove type can affect cross-contamination rates. Interaction between bodily fluids and glove material can also influence bacterial transfer implying that different types of glove should be used for different clinical procedures.

FP1.5 Assessing the effect of antibiotics on asymptomatic MRSA carriage and colonization dynamics using statistical models

Background: Whilst disposable gloves can protect the hands of healthcare workers from acquiring bacteria during patient care, the glove surface itself can become heavily contaminated. Information regarding the effect of glove material on cross-transmission is limited. Aim: To assess the ease with which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is transferred from different glove materials to a range of environmental surfaces. Methods: Eight gloves were selected on the basis of material (latex, nitrile, vinyl) and/or protein content. The forefinger of each was inoculated with MRSA in the presence or absence of a simulated body fluid and immediately pressed onto a pre-sanitised test surface (bed rail, storage drawer, computer keyboard) for 10 seconds. The number of bacteria transferred to the surface was determined via swabbing and the mean transfer rate (n = 10) from glove to surface calculated. Results: In the absence of body fluids, the transfer rate from nitrile gloves (with accelerator) to any of the test surfaces was <1%; significantly lower than that from latex, vinyl or accelerator-free nitrile gloves (p< 0.05). Highest transfer (19.5%) was from gloves comprising <50mg/g latex protein. Gloves comprising lower levels of protein (<10mg/g) transferred significantly fewer bacteria. The presence of proteinaceous organic soil significantly increased bacterial transfer from all glove types to the drawer and keyboard. The highest transfer (44%) was associated with accelerator-free nitrile gloves. Transfer to the bed rail was highest from gloves contaminated with blood and ranged from 29.4% to 50.5%; the greater the hydrophobicity of the glove material, the greater the number of bacteria transferred. Conclusion: Disposable glove type can affect cross-contamination rates. Interaction between bodily fluids and glove material can also influence bacterial transfer implying that different types of glove should be used for different clinical procedures.

Effects of gloves on the total grip strength applied to cylindrical handles

The major objectives of this study were to establish an alternative method for measuring the effects of gloves on the grip strength applied to cylindrical handles and to quantify the strength reduction due to the use of typical anti-vibration (AV) gloves. Different from previous studies that measure the grip force in a specific plane, the alternative method measures the total contact force normal to a cylindrical handle; the total grip strength is defined as the total contact force measured when a subject applies a power grip to the handle with his/her maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) effort. Two instrumented cylindrical handles (30 and 40 mm) were used in this study. Ten subjects participated in the experiment. Four types of AV gloves and two types of non-AV gloves were used in the experiment. Compared with bare-handed trials, each of the four anti-vibration gloves reduced the grip strength by more than 29%, regardless of handle size. One of the non-AV gloves also largely reduced the grip strength (≥25%) whereas the grip strength reduction of the other one was less than 10%. The gloves also influenced the grip force distribution pattern around the circumference of the cylindrical handles. The results suggest that the thickness of a glove is one of the major factors associated with these effects. Relevance to industry Glove use is generally recommended to keep the hands warm and dry and to protect them from many other hazards, provided this is consistent with safe and effective tool operation. However, a user of thicker, stiffer gloves, such as some AV gloves, could be trading one health risk for another. Knowledge of the effects of gloves on grip strength can help workers, managers, and safety professionals make informed decisions about glove selection and use in the workplace. This knowledge may also lead to work glove improvements.

Comparison of 4 Different Types of Surgical Gloves Used for Preventing Blood Contact

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

Standard precautions: knowledge and practice among nursing and medical students in a teaching hospital in Brazil

Compliance with standard precautions measures is essential to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections. The objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge and practice of hand washing, use of gloves and the handling and disposal of needlesticks and other sharp objects among nursing and medical students. This is a descriptive observational study, which used a questionnaire and a check list. Knowledge of standard precaution measures was evaluated in 48/48 (100.0%) nursing students and 93/112 (83.0%) medical students. At the teaching hospital, 26/37 (70.3%) nursing students and 78/93 (83.9%) medical students belonging to the population being investigated were observed during their clinical practice. These results were compared intra groups. Knowledge of hand hygiene procedures was higher than what was observed in the clinical practice in both groups of students, (X²; p≤0.001). Compliance with the use of sterile and non-sterile gloves, and handling and disposal of needlesticks and other sharp objects was higher than the knowledge of these procedures among nursing students, and a statistically significant difference was observed with regards to sterile glove usage (X²; p=0.009). Regarding medical students, there was no statistical difference between knowledge and practice insofar as these two types of gloves were concerned, as well as regarding the handling and disposal of needlesticks and other sharp objects. Performance of both groups in terms of knowledge of hand hygiene showed a dichotomy between the teaching and the practice of these standard precautions. Results have shown a deficiency in the teaching-learning process for the other measures evaluated.

Effects of handle orientation, gloves, handle friction and elbow posture on maximum horizontal pull and push forces

Biomechanical models were evaluated for effects of handle orientation, handle material, gloves and arm posture on maximal pull/push force. Eight healthy subjects performed maximum pull/push exertions on handles with two different orientations and two different surface materials, using bare hand and two types of glove as well as two arm postures. The empirical data supported the proposed biomechanical models: Pull/push forces for the bare hand on a rubber handle decreased 10% when the handle was parallel to the pull/push direction, compared with when perpendicular to it. For parallel handles, pull/push forces further decreased with decreasing hand–handle friction coefficient (simulated by different handle materials and gloves). Pull force exerted by the bare hand was 29% greater when the elbow was extended than when flexed. Pull force was greater than push force (with bare hand and flexed elbow). The biomechanical models suggest that friction between the hand and handle limits pull/push forces for parallel handles. Elbow strength may be responsible for decreased pull force for the flexed elbow posture and decreased force for pull compared with push in the postures examined. Statement of Relevance: Biomechanical models presented in this paper provide insights for causes of upper extremity strength limitations during pull/push tasks. Findings in this paper can be used directly in the design of workstation and objects to reduce fatigue and risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Denim Clothing Reduces Venom Expenditure by Rattlesnakes Striking Defensively at Model Human Limbs

Venomous snakebites can be painful, costly, and potentially life threatening. We seek to learn whether ordinary clothing (denim material from blue jeans) interferes with the kinematics of venom delivery, thereby reducing the amount of venom injected by a representative viper into a human limb. In a laboratory study, we used model human limbs (warm, saline solution-filled gloves) to elicit defensive strikes from small and large southern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus helleri). Each snake was videotaped biting a bare glove and a denim-covered glove. The snakes injected significantly less venom into denim-covered gloves than bare gloves during defensive strikes, with a 60% reduction for small snakes and 66% for large snakes. Latency to bite, number of bites, and duration of fang contact during the bite were similar for the 2 glove types, suggesting that the 2 targets elicited similar defensive behaviors and strikes. Several findings suggested that denim interfered with venom delivery, including the high proportion of dry bites for denim-covered gloves and the large quantity of venom spilled harmlessly on the denim cover. Large rattlesnakes struck more readily, maintained longer fang contact during the bite, and delivered 26 to 41 times more venom into gloves than small snakes. In our model, denim clothing proved effective at reducing venom injection by both small and large rattlesnakes. Wearing long denim pants as an alternative to shorts may provide a simple, low-cost means of reducing the severity of snakebites.