Evaluation of the quality of surgical gloves among four different manufactures

A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the quality of four different brands of surgical gloves in terms of the perforation rate, ventilation, fi tness, allergic reaction, elasticity, thickness, powder, and satisfaction. Gloves of four different manufactures which were used by various medical ce ntres were distributed to participants according to a computer-generated ra ndomization table. A structured questionnaire was self-administered by volu nteers immediately after the surgical procedure to gather the information f rom participants, including the demographic data, allergy history, length o f use, and variables of quality measures. Two brands, A and D, were signifi cantly inferior to the best manufacture among the four, B, in terms of the ventilation, elasticity, and thickness, odds ratios ranging from 6 to 24, p < 0.05, For the amount of corn starch powder and satisfaction, all three o ther brands were inferior to brand B, odds ratios ranging from 6 to 44, p < 0.05. Gloves worn longer than 2 hours had a slightly higher perforation ra te post procedures (11.5% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.048). The rate of latex allergic reaction was not significantly different between surgeons (8.3%) and the ot hers (6.7%). No difference of the allergic reaction rate was found between subjects with allergy history (7.7%) and those without the history (7.5%). The quality of surgical gloves differs from brand to brand. The government and institutions should take the responsibility of monitoring the quality o f surgical gloves in order to provide a safer and more comfortable environm ent for the surgical personnel and patients. (C) 1999 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.