William Halstead, M.D., the great surgical innovator, introduced sterilized surgical gloves in the late 19th century, saving countless lives over many generations. Gloving material and techniques have advanced considerably since then, especially in recent years as knowledge of how to maximize safety for patients and health professionals has advanced.
Synthetic surgical gloves are recommended by most health safety authorities, including the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH)1, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)2 and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).3
Reports of latex allergies first attracted attention in the 1980s. The first fatal reaction was reported in 1991.4 Johns Hopkins Hospital, where latex surgical gloves were first used, banned their use altogether in 2008.5
Allergic reactions to latex are triggered by proteins found in natural rubber latex and mediated by the IgE antibody. Touching latex or inhaling particles shed from gloves can cause a reaction. Sensitivity increases over time and with repeated use.6 This makes healthcare professionals vulnerable. In fact, up to 17 percent7 of healthcare workers are affected by a latex sensitivity compared to just 1-6 percent8 of the general population.
The most common allergic reactions to latex are itchy skin, rashes (similar to poison ivy), sneezing and runny noses. However, latex reactions can range in severity; several hundred people in the United States suffer life-threatening anaphylaxis every year due to latex.9
The use of latex surgical gloves is on the decline, yet, in 2016, latex gloves still accounted for over forty percent of surgical gloves sold in the United States.10 Historically, gloves made with natural rubber latex have been popular because of their comfortable fit and feel. The decline of latex gloves sales has been accelerated, in part, by technological improvements to make synthetic gloves more closely mimic the fit, feel and comfort of latex.
Double-gloving is recommended for invasive surgeries by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)11 and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)12 as well as AORN13 and ACS.14 In fact, wearing two surgical gloves significantly reduces infection risk to operating room personnel.15 The second glove protects against bloodborne pathogens when the outer glove is punctured.16
Operating rooms are the hospital environment with the greatest concentration of sharp objects. By their final year of training, 99 percent of surgical residents across 17 medical centers reported having suffered a needle-stick injury.17 A separate study found glove perforations occurred in 44.5 percent of gastrointestinal surgeries, 34.7 percent of orthopedic surgeries and 31.1 percent of gynecological operations.18 Up to 16 percent of injuries from sharp instruments occur in hand-to-hand transfers.19
For a relatively low cost, double-gloving helps provide a high level of protection. The interior glove reduces exposure to patient blood by as much as 87 percent when the outer glove is punctured.19
Surgeons report varying adjustment periods are needed to optimize protection, tactility and dexterity when starting to double glove.20 To address tactile and comfort, specialized designs now differentiate undergloves and outer gloves. Undergloves are an average of 14 percent thinner than outer gloves. Synthetic gloves may include an inner coating to reduce slippage and contain a low-protein formula to make donning and removing gloves easier.
In addition, using colored undergloves that contrast with the other gloves helps to improve occupational safety. Research shows that most punctures are tiny and identified only after surgery, not at the time of the incident.21
One
Latex can cause potentially severe allergic reactions in health care workers and patients.
Two
Using two surgical gloves dramatically reduces the risk of bloodborne infections to health care professionals.22 Contrasting-colored undergloves help identify punctures to outer gloves.
Three
Focus on common nonimmunologic reactions, such as soaps and vulnerability from damaged skin. If ACD is suspected, the glove user should have a patch test done to isolate the cause of the immune response.
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), an immunologic response to a chemical, causes irritation in smaller number of cases. Although not life-threatening, ACD can be a problem for healthcare workers. Rashes, dryness and other symptoms can be acute or chronic and can appear up to 48 hours after exposure to the irritant. The source of hypersensitivity can be elusive because more than 4,000 chemicals are known to have the potential to trigger allergic reactions.24 Chemical accelerators, used to make synthetic and latex gloves stronger and more elastic, are an allergen that causes a Type IV (delayed) allergic reaction, albeit infrequently. In a Cleveland Clinic study, a patch test found 23 of 626 synthetic glove users with suspected ACD were found to react to an accelerant.24 For this small group, switching to a glove not made with chemical accelerators may be beneficial.
Treatment for skin irritation must accurately respond to the cause, not a hunch. Focus first on common non-immunologic reactions, such as soaps and vulnerability from damaged skin. Approved moisturizers, rehydrating products and glove liners can help. In actuality, jewelry, fragrances, detergents and other products are more common irritants than synthetic gloves.26,27 If ACD is suspected, the glove user should have a patch test done to isolate the cause of the immune response. Patch tests exist for all accelerants and are very reliable for diagnosing ACD. Switching to non-accelerant gloves should be done if it is determined that the accelerant causes an immune response. However, “glove shopping” — frequently switching gloves as a response to a dermatitis — is counterproductive because it does not allow time for adjusting to new gloves or provide an understanding of delayed allergic reactions. As in medicine generally, an accurate diagnosis is a prerequisite for the right cure.
