Value Of Powder Free Nitrile Gloves

Traditionally, medical gloves came coated with powder, to make it easy for the nurses and doctors to slip them on and off. However, it was quickly reported that this came with a major trade-off to the health of the persons involved- both the health practitioners and the patients being attended to: allergic reactions.

The powder that is used in the conventional latex gloves contains proteins, that trigger the allergic reactions and breathing difficulties. What’s more, they can irritate patient’s wounds, affecting the healing process and causing complications in the post-surgical care due to inflammation. Initially, talc and similar powders were used for coating the gloves, but were quickly done away with due to the increased cases of inflammation. Cornstarch is used in some of the modern gloves, but that also causes similar problems, including accelerating latex-induced hypersensitivity as it increases the spread of latex proteins. This is why patients underwent screening before surgical procedures to determine if they have undiagnosed latex allergy.

In fact, oversight bodies around the world have issued bans against powdered examination and surgical gloves, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did back in 2016. In the Practical Guide to Infection Control (Ninth edition), the Australian Dental Association indicated that the donning and doffing of powdered gloves cause aerosolization of cornstarch powder, which can result in respiratory exposure as long as 12 hours. Studies such as those highlighted in 2017’s ‘Powdered gloves: Time to bid adieu’, in the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, and also in vol. 27 of The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, further highlight the dangers that come with cornstarch being used in surgical and examination gloves, leading to post-operative threats to recovery, such as wound infections, peritoneal adhesions and even granulomas.

Enter Non-Powdered Gloves

All across the healthcare scene, practitioners and institutions are making the switch to powder-free gloves, such as nitrile gloves. These have been proved to be the safer solution all around the world. For instance, the switch from gloves that have been coated with cornstarch powder, to the low-protein powder-free gloves has led to the reduction of the natural rubber latex (NRL) induced allergies, and it also protects both the patients and staff that have already been diagnosed to have Type I Latex Allergy. It also leads to a decrease in cases of occupational contact urticaria for the healthcare providers.

When going for the nitrile gloves, you want to be sure that you get quality products. There are a wide range of products to choose from. Factors to consider when making your purchase range from the thickness of the gloves- as this determines the level of protection that you will get, from those handling patients to those dealing with chemicals, cases like those of tattoo artists where puncture resistance is a priority, all through to the sensitivity of the gloves in order to ensure that you retain precision when handling equipment. The brand is also key, including its history in providing the nitrile gloves, how long it’s been in operation and the markets it delivers its products to, as it enables you to gauge how much you can trust its commitment to quality.

Value Of Powder Free Nitrile Gloves