Integrity of powder-free examination gloves to bacteriophage penetration

The purpose of this study was to compare the resistance to viral penetratio n of powder-free synthetic examination gloves with powder-free latex examin ation gloves commonly used in hospitals. Because these gloves had no holes, this study examined viral penetration through a membrane. Using a standard bacteriophage penetration model, no bacteriophage penetration was detected through the membrane for any of the gloves tested. The new powder-free nit rile and polyvinyl chloride synthetic examination gloves provided comparabl e resistance to viral penetration as did the powder-free latex examination gloves. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.