Comparison of blood transmission through latex and nitrile glove materials

Abstract

AimsTo compare blood transmission through nitrile, single and double layer latex glove materials in simulated needlestick injuries. MethodsExperiments involved nitrile, single and double layer latex gloves. A cutting suture needle was dipped into a specimen of blood and then immediately jabbed through the glove material into a cell containing saline. This process was repeated using the same blood specimen with different glove materials, plus a control experiment with no glove material. Other factors, including the angle, speed and depth of needle penetration, were controlled through the use of a testing machine. Following needle punctures, samples were taken from the suspension contained in each cell and examined under blind conditions. Median red blood cell (RBC) count was used as a measure of the quantities of blood transmitted through the different gloves. ResultsNitrile glove material was associated with reduced transmission of RBCs compared to single layer latex. Double layer latex gloves provided better protection than single layer latex or nitrile gloves.Conclusions These findings suggest that in protecting against blood transmission in the context of needlestick injuries, single layer nitrile gloves are superior to single layer latex gloves, but double gloving with latex gloves provides better protection than either single layer latex or nitrile.

Incidence of needlestick injuries among medical students after implementation of preventive training

“…This study also found that 34.2% of students did not always wear gloves when they drew blood from patients. Gloving is known to protect against injury from needles, (17) as well as reduce the risk of blood-borne infections to healthcare workers due to the 'wiping effect' of the glove material. (18) Gloving reduces the risk of blood-borne infections because it can reduce the volume of contaminated blood being introduced by injury due to hollow-bore needles.…”

Joint EFLM-COLABIOCLI recommendation for venous blood sampling

“…In addition, apart from being exposed during the needlestick injuries, venous blood sampling is always associated with a risk for blood contact and contamination during the procedure. There is evidence showing that this risk is reduced using gloves [45,46]. It has been shown that hand cleansing is the key to the reducing the risk of the infection of the healthcare staff and crosstransmission of antimicrobial resistant pathogens.…”

Microneedle Manufacture: Assessing Hazards and Control Measures

“…The direct constrictive/frictional contact of the needle with the film is evident and should therefore facilitate a physical cleansing action. In cases of deep puncture involving either hollow bore or suture needle, there were no additional gains in puncture protection with double gloving [40,41], but that may not be true in the case of MN arrays. The presence of a glove will certainly reduce the degree to which a needle will puncture, but their influence is potentially greater in the context of MNs where the length of the needles is greatly reduced.…”