LOSS OF GLOVE INTEGRITY DURING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PROCEDURES

Study objective: We sought to assess the loss of integrity of the late x-glove barrier during use in the ED setting. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in an urban ED and level I trauma cent er. Procedures performed by ED health care workers (HCWs) were directl y observed, timed, and categorized. The gloves used by the HCWs were c ollected and subjected to the standard US Food and Drug Administration leak test. Results: Ninety-nine (7.9%) of 1,254 pairs of gloves used for observed procedures leaked, compared with 2 of 200 unworn control pairs (1.0%) and 12 of 300 pairs that were worn but not used (4.0%). L eak rates varied by manufacturer and were higher for gloves worn 20 mi nutes or longer (13.7%, P=.015), used for four or more procedures (50% , P<.01), or used for critical care procedures (23.5%, P<.01). Sixty-s ix of an additional 325 pairs of gloves collected from unobserved crit ical care procedures (20.3%) leaked. Conclusion: Loss of glove integri ty occurs during the performance of ED procedures, subjecting the HCW to possible infectious-fluid exposure. Risk of glove perforation incre ases with duration of wear, number of procedures performed, and the pe rformance of critical care procedures.