BARRIER PROTECTION WITH EXAMINATION GLOVES - DOUBLE VERSUS SINGLE

Citation
Dm. Korniewicz et al., BARRIER PROTECTION WITH EXAMINATION GLOVES - DOUBLE VERSUS SINGLE, American journal of infection control, 22(1), 1994, pp. 12-15
Citations number
NO
Categorie Soggetti
Infectious Diseases
ISSN journal
01966553
Volume
22
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
12 - 15
Database
ISI
SICI code
0196-6553(1994)22:1<12:BPWEG->2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
In a series of experiments, the barrier integrity of single and double vinyl and latex examination gloves were tested for dye and water leak s after being placed under stress. A total of 886 examination gloves ( 385 vinyl: single, 199; double, 186; and 501 latex: single, 290; doubl e, 21 1) were tested with a standardized clinical protocol designed to mimic patient care activities. Leakage rates for single or double glo ving were significantly higher for vinyl than for latex gloves. Single vinyl gloves were significantly more likely to leak than were double vinyl gloves (51.3% and 19.7%, p < 0.0001). However, there were essent ially no differences in leakage rates for single or double latex glove s (4.1% and 3.8%, p = 1). Significantly higher rates of leakage were i dentified with the water leak test than with the dye test for vinyl (p < 0.001) but not for latex (p = 0.22) gloves. For vinyl but not latex gloves, there were significant differences in leakage rates by brand. We conclude that double gloving offers little advantage during routin e procedures associated with minimal stress to the gloves or when late x gloves are worn.