PubMed · 10260478
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
R E Transue, C Hall. 1983. Fire safety & electronics.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10260478/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Holes in latex gloves can be reliably detected by commercially available electronic devices. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of an electronic glove hole detection device using latex gloves to that of neoprene, vinyl, and nitrile latex-free gloves. The electronic hole detection device accurately detected holes in the latex gloves during the 2-h study. In contrast, the latex-free gloves were immediately conductive of electricity in the absence of holes. Consequently, electronic glove hole detection devices cannot be reliably used with latex-free gloves.
BACKGROUND: Breakdown of the surgeon-patient barrier represents a risk for transmission of infectious disease. Such breakdowns are frequently not recognized by the surgical team. The protection afforded by double gloving under normal operating conditions was evaluated. METHODS: An electronic device detected breakdown of the surgeon-patient barrier in a series of 80 surgical procedures, randomly assigned to either double or single gloving. Fluid contact due to glove perforation, porosity or gown wetting was recorded during 151 individual surgeon episodes covering 238 operator-hours. Surgical procedures were called superficial for incisions of less than 10 cm. RESULTS: Double gloving reduced the number of perforation and porosity alarms twofold in both superficial and deep surgical procedures. Deep procedures carried a sevenfold increased risk of barrier breakdown compared with superficial procedures, the risk being greatest for the principal operator. CONCLUSION: Without electronic detection, a large majority of barrier breakdowns would remain undetected by the surgical team and lead to prolonged contact with potentially contaminating body fluids. The use of double gloving provides real protection against such contamination risks.