Discover the advantages and applications of sterile gloves
Sterile gloves represent one of the highest supply volumes for hospitals. However, given the different departments, clinical tasks and employees and their requirements, it is often difficult to choose the right glove.
Today, thanks to technological advances, sterile and non-sterile gloves offer more functions and benefits than ever before.
Consequently, exploring the world of gloves teaches us that there is a wide variety of materials, styles and colors, as well as the differences between them.
In this way, we will be able to make the best use of sterile surgical gloves and know which ones are appropriate for a given activity.
In this article we list the differences between the major types of gloves to help you make better decisions.
Applications of sterile gloves
Sterile gloves in Canada are used in most cases during medical procedures, as they prevent contamination between the medical staff and the patient.
These gloves are sterile and anatomical, offering greater precision and sensitivity. Their quality standards are higher than those of other types of gloves and they are usually manufactured with or without powder.
Powder greatly facilitates their application and consists of the addition of corn starch, also known as PLA. Surgical gloves are available in different materials.
When should non-sterile gloves be used?
Non-sterile disposable gloves are available in multipacks packed in boxes with dispensers, in different sizes.
How to put on sterile gloves
Glove packs should be placed as close as possible to the point of use, ideally in a stationary dispenser so that gloves can be picked up as easily as possible.
Sterile latex gloves
In the past, the material used for glove production has predominantly been natural rubber latex.
However, concerns about latex sensitivity have led healthcare organizations to adopt gloves made of a different material, such as vinyl.
In this regard, there is some evidence that vinyl may be a less effective barrier than latex, although all gloves carry the risk of failure of the barrier effect, which is not visible to the naked eye.
Hence the need to practice hand hygiene regardless of whether gloves are used or not.
When to wear sterile gloves
Therefore, disposable gloves should only be used for the task for which they are needed and then removed and discarded and cannot be cleaned or washed and reused for another activity.
Glove composition
What is the composition of gloves? They can be made of different materials such as latex, vinyl, nitrile or neoprene. Why do the manufacturing materials vary? It is due to the number of allergic people.
Many health professionals today have been affected by the allergies that latex can produce. For this reason, the idea of manufacturing gloves with other types of materials was born.
In the following, we will explain the material from which each type of glove is made and how it confers different characteristics to each one of them.
Latex gloves
These products come from a natural raw material and are the most common and used in the market. They have good sensitivity and are highly resistant, adapting almost perfectly to the shape of the hand.
Their only drawback is that they tend to cause more allergies than other materials used to manufacture surgical gloves.
Sterile nitrile and vinyl gloves
Vinyl and nitrile are the best substitutes for latex gloves. They come from a copolymer of acrylonitrile butadiene, being a synthetic rubber latex. The characteristics of these materials can have many similarities to the properties of latex.
Vinyl surgical gloves are known for their high strength, although their sensitivity is quite low. However, it is one of the most sought after because of its low price. They are the best combination of practicality and cost-effectiveness!
Nitrile gloves are also commonly used, ideal for any job. They are quite sensitive and are characterized by their high resistance, even against chemicals.
The difference between vinyl and nitrile gloves is the manufacturing process, which gives them different characteristics, although the same raw material is used.
How do I know which glove is best for me?
Economically, vinyl is the most cost-effective. In terms of accessibility, latex is the most popular. But in terms of benefits, sterile nitrile gloves are unparalleled.
Latex, the standard choice
If you’re not sure which type of medical gloves to choose, you can start by selecting polyurethane or latex disposable gloves.
These gloves are ideal for use in food service and many other applications. They are also more affordable than other types of surgical gloves. If you are interested in using polyurethane or latex, you may want to consider the embossed and textured options.
Finally, if you prefer latex gloves, but are afraid of allergic reactions, you should know that there are many ways to identify a chemical allergy, such as diagnostic skin testing, blood or allergy testing.
Once a chemical allergy has been identified as the cause, the simplest solution is to avoid or minimize exposure to the allergen. However, there are also some medications and moisturizers that can help alleviate symptoms.
Alternatives to latex
There are several benefits to patients and staff in using non-latex gloves. Latex can cause a variety of allergic reactions ranging from nasal congestion and asthma attacks to anaphylaxis and, very rarely, death.
Some populations are particularly vulnerable, so it is important to provide healthcare facilities with latex-free alternatives.
In 2003 an NHS survey was conducted in the UK and the result showed that 60 percent had not yet taken steps to reduce latex exposure.
Much can be done to improve these numbers and switching to non-latex gloves is the first step in the right direction. The benefits quickly become apparent.
By switching to non-latex gloves, storage costs can be reduced because larger quantities are cheaper to purchase.
The number of incidents in the non-latex rooms was drastically reduced after the switch. Fewer incidents also mean lower treatment costs and lower wage costs for outside workers.
Non-latex gloves are clinically responsible, cost-effective and time-saving. Switching to non-latex gloves contributes positively to patient well-being and facilitates hospital processes.
Now that you know these products better your next question should be where to buy sterile gloves and this is where Divocco Medical comes in.
We apply the Lean philosophy to create a completely customer-centric business to perpetually improve the customer experience at Divocco.
We seamlessly interconnect healthcare and technology to optimize both the logistics of supplying medical equipment and creating the devices of tomorrow. And we collaborate with you to serve your needs, meet your demands and help solve your problems with innovative and timely solutions. Visit our website for more information.
