S U Din1, M G Tidley. 1. Department of Occupational Health, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Using two gloves during surgical procedures is more protective than one in relation to percutaneous needle injuries, but it remains unclear whether the use of two thin-walled gloves is equally as protective as a single thicker-walled glove. AIMS: To compare the volume of contaminant transmitted from fluid-coated solid cutting suture needles through the same thickness of the same glove material made up of differing numbers of layers during simulated needlestick injuries. METHODS: A colorimetric enzyme assay was used to determine the volume of fluid transferred through identical glove materials in mechanized simulated needlestick injuries. The needles were mechanically transferred through varying glove layers [zero (control), one and two] where the cumulative thickness of the double layer was equal to the single thicker layer. The force required to puncture the test mater ials was also recorded. RESULTS: In simulated 'needlestick' injury experiments, significantly less fluid was transmitted through the double, thin glove layer compared with the single thick layer (P < 0.05). The double, thin glove layer transmitted 16% of needle fluid compared with 21% for the single thicker glove layer. Significantly more force was required to puncture the double layer compared with the single thicker layer (P < 0.05), but for any individual puncture there was no association between the puncture force and the volume of fluid transmitted. CONCLUSIONS: A double layer of glove material was more resistant to puncture and removed more enzyme contaminant from a solid cutting suture needle compared with an equivalent single thick layer of glove material.
BACKGROUND: Using two gloves during surgical procedures is more protective than one in relation to percutaneous needle injuries, but it remains unclear whether the use of two thin-walled gloves is equally as protective as a single thicker-walled glove. AIMS: To compare the volume of contaminant transmitted from fluid-coated solid cutting suture needles through the same thickness of the same glove material made up of differing numbers of layers during simulated needlestick injuries. METHODS: A colorimetric enzyme assay was used to determine the volume of fluid transferred through identical glove materials in mechanized simulated needlestick injuries. The needles were mechanically transferred through varying glove layers [zero (control), one and two] where the cumulative thickness of the double layer was equal to the single thicker layer. The force required to puncture the test mater ials was also recorded. RESULTS: In simulated 'needlestick' injury experiments, significantly less fluid was transmitted through the double, thin glove layer compared with the single thick layer (P < 0.05). The double, thin glove layer transmitted 16% of needle fluid compared with 21% for the single thicker glove layer. Significantly more force was required to puncture the double layer compared with the single thicker layer (P < 0.05), but for any individual puncture there was no association between the puncture force and the volume of fluid transmitted. CONCLUSIONS: A double layer of glove material was more resistant to puncture and removed more enzyme contaminant from a solid cutting suture needle compared with an equivalent single thick layer of glove material.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health care workers; needlestick injuries; occupational health.