[ OSH-Link Home
| IVI Online
| Comments ]
The barrier protective properties of latex were reviewed. Latex gloves today represent the most common barrier material against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Health care personnel today demand that gloves provide two way protection, preventing transmission of pathogens both to and from the patient. Factors that must be considered in establishing the barrier characteristics of latex gloves were discussed, including developing rating scales to identify appropriate uses and standards for determining when a glove should be discarded. Double gloving has been recommended as a means of providing added protection against bloodborne infections such as HIV or hepatitis-B virus during surgical procedures. Glove standards established by the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OSHA, Department of Health and Human Services, and the American Society for Testing and Materials were reviewed. Techniques for storing latex gloves properly in order to maintain their barrier integrity were described. General factors that affect glove barrier properties include fit, the presence of holes, hydration effects, variation in quality between brands, and techniques used in clinical practice. It was noted that prolonged use can affect the integrity of a glove barrier regardless of the other factors. Factors to consider when choosing gloves for specific clinical procedures and criteria for selecting high quality gloves were described.
Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, 15(1):123-137, 1995. (29 references)
You can do a search of the OSH-DB database and get a list of articles on any topic of interest on our Visitor Search Page. Access to read the articles is limited to OSH-DB subscribers.