Integrity of powder-free examination gloves to bacteriophage penetration.

The purpose of this study was to compare the resistance to viral penetration of powder-free synthetic examination gloves with powder-free latex examination gloves commonly used in hospitals. Because these gloves had no holes, this study examined viral penetration through a membrane. Using a standard bacteriophage penetration model, no bacteriophage penetration was detected through the membrane for any of the gloves tested. The new powder-free nitrile and polyvinyl chloride synthetic examination gloves provided comparable resistance to viral penetration as did the powder-free latex examination gloves. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.