Gown-glove interface: a possible solution to the danger zone.

Abstract

The gown-glove interface is the weakest point in the present barrier system of gown and glove protection for the surgeon and other healthcare professionals who come into direct contact with body liquids. Try it yourself: put on a fluid-resistant gown and surgical gloves. See that the glove cuff is well proximal to the stockinette. Hold your wrist and forearm for a moment under running water. Wait a minute to see if your forearm is wet. A wet forearm during surgery would be a blooded one. We propose a gown redesign that creates a dart at the terminal forearm, sealed by a liquid-proof method, and then similarly sealing the proximal end of the glove to the sleeve.