| Sub-title | |
| Authors | A Serracino Inglott M Zarb Adami L M Azzopardi M Scicluna |
| Abstract | A study was performed to establish the rate of tear of surgical gloves at St Lukes Hospital and the factors that may influence it. Glove failure is of importance in the prevention of HIV or Hepatitis infections to surgeons and operating staff. Nine hundred and six gloves were collected randomly at the end of operations from 310 operations (6 specialities) carried out at St Lukes Hospital over a five month period and then tested for perforations using the watertight test described by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Standard specification. The failure percentage (%) of incidence of defective gloves was determined. Two controls were carried out: control one tested unused gloves and control two reviewed storage areas and storage conditions of the gloves. From the gloves collected, percentage failure rate was as follows: surgeons 26.5, first assistant 9.2, second assistant 8.3 and theatre nurses 11.1 (average 16.6%) with the highest incidence in obstetrics and gynaecological operations (29.2%). Absence of perforations in the control gloves indicated that the study gloves were perforated during the operation procedure. The detection of perforations in gloves used in surgical operations strongly suggest that the glove material is unable to withstand adverse operation conditions such as long operation procedures and the use of sharp instruments. It is also important that the pharmacist extends his information services to create education and awareness that gloves are often perforated during an operation. The pharmacist should advise that gloves should be changed more frequently during long operations especially by gynaecological and obstetric staff who had the highest incidence of perforation. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | Volume 15 (suppl) |
| Pages | - |
| Date | |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | glove perforation, surgical procedures, gynaecology, obstetrics |