Medical gloves are also known by the synonym disposable gloves. This hygiene utensil, which is used to protect medical staff and patients in hospitals, ambulances and doctors’ offices, comes in several varieties. Besides hand disinfection, protective gloves are the most important medical product that ensures infection prophylaxis in all healthcare settings.
What are medical gloves?
Disposable gloves are used to protect medical personnel and patients from contamination in a non-aseptic environment. Disposable gloves are used to protect medical personnel and patients from contamination in a non-aseptic environment. Legislation classifies gloves as a medical product. For this reason, they must have certain quality characteristics and meet the requirements of European Standard EN 455-1 to -4, the Medical Device Directive (MDD) and several DIN standards. The European Standard EN 455 allows only the single use of this medical product. The European Directive 93/42/EEC also regulates the safe handling of medical products throughout the EU. The international designation is Medical Device Directive (MDD). According to DIN EN 455-1, disposable gloves must be free of perforations. DIN EN 455-2 specifies the requirements for physical properties. DIN EN 455-3 evaluates the medical product with regard to its biocompatibility. This provides information on the composition of the material with regard to endotoxins, chemicals, removable proteins and powder. DIN EN 455-4 specifies the requirements for shelf life. This includes legally required labeling and instructions for storage and packaging.
Forms, types and grades
Medical gloves vary in sterility, size, and material. Non-sterile gloves are divided into three sizes: S stands for “small,” small; M for “medium,” medium; and L for “large,” large. Some manufacturers offer an extended range with sizes XS to XXL. Sterile gloves have sizes 6 to 9, with size differences of 0.5 each. For example, after size 7, the next size is 7.5. Disposable gloves are not identical; each sterile-wrapped pair lists a left glove and a right glove.
Structure and operation
The ordinary protective gloves are made of latex. People with latex allergy use gloves made of nitrile or vinyl. Nitrile, unlike latex, is characterized by higher tear resistance. Vinyl contains a large amount of plasticizers, which can be harmful to health. Neoprene, polyethylene, styrene-butadiene polymers and Tactylon are also used as plastics for manufacturing. In the sterile operating room area, protective gloves made of natural extex dominate because they have a high degree of stretchability and are comfortable to wear. Doctors and nursing staff appreciate the high grip on the fingertips. In non-clinical and non-sterile areas, gloves made of PVC are preferred for cost reasons, but they have an increased perforation rate due to the low material density. Another distinguishing feature is the powdered and non-powdered nature inside the glove. The powder allows for easy handling, as the gloves are easier to remove from wet hands. However, it can cause allergies. Protective gloves prevent contact with disinfectants and cleaning agents, as well as other hazardous substances such as cytostatics and laboratory chemicals. Their use also focuses on the risk of infection from blood-borne infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis C and B, and smear infections. In many cases, surgical gloves are used even though the less expensive sterile disposable gloves are sufficient, for example, for endotracheal suctioning of patients receiving artificial respiration. There is a danger if doctors and nurses put on the gloves too soon before they are used and after disinfection. Then the disinfectant is still on the hands. The alcoholic preparation cannot evaporate under occlusion and damages the skin.
Health benefits
Sterile gloves are used to prevent infections. Unlike the ordinary human skin flora, they do not have facultative pathogenic germs.Self-protection of medical personnel is important when an infectious disease is known to be present in the patient. The gloves prevent contamination of the skin and transmission of body fluids. Patients must also be protected from pathogenic germs that medical personnel can transmit. This foreign protection is used in all medical activities that can be potential carriers of germs in the form of body fluids: Oral examinations, blood sampling, vaginal swabs, uterine examination, application and change of wound dressings, rectal examinations, punctures, patient care, intimate body care. Very high demands are placed on a sterile and completely germ-free environment during major surgeries such as bone marrow transplantation, heart surgery, amputations, organ transplants, lung surgery, traumatologic and orthopedic procedures, and wound care. There is an increased risk of perforation and infection during these procedures. Patients in the ICU must also have a sterile and germ-free environment. If this sterile chain is interrupted by non-sterile and germ-ridden gloves worn by medical staff, there is a risk of sepsis, wound infection or infection with the so-called hospital germs. For this reason, sterile disposable gloves are used in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Staff responsible for cleaning operating rooms, medical cutlery, patient rooms, machines and corridors also wear sterile gloves so that they do not act as potential germ carriers during cleaning. Non-sterile gloves are used in non-clinical areas such as the kitchen, technical services, or general cleaning tasks that do not require handling of infection-sensitive materials and premises. All medical tasks that involve prolonged wear or increased mechanical stress require the use of latex gloves. In this area, protective gloves made of polyethylene or PVC are preferably used. For simple patient handling activities that do not require increased tactile accuracy, the use of gloves made of synthetic materials is possible. For activities requiring high tactile sensitivity and grip safety, latex gloves are preferably used.
