What you need to know about medical gloves
Surgical ones are thinner and longer than examination ones. They completely repeat the shape of the hand and reach the forearm. Modern models are distinguished by a ribbed surface at the fingertips. It provides a secure fit for the tool.
Consumables differ in thickness and length depending on the purpose. The thinnest gloves are used for microsurgical operations thick and durable gloves are used in traumatology. And very high models are common among obstetricians and gynecologists. Where the cuff length varies from 400 to 480 millimeters.
On the inner packaging of surgical gloves there should be a marking. For the right hand and for the left. And viewing in this regard are universal. Most gloves are equipped with a special roller that allows them to stay firmly on the hand.
The use of examination and surgical gloves is due to several reasons. They protect medical staff from contamination and microbial intrusion ensure safe contact. With the patient and prevent the transmission of bacteria. However after interacting with the sick, it is recommended to treat hands with antiseptics.
Gloves are a must for any medical procedure. They should be comfortable, airtight, durable, and easy to recycle.
When choosing gloves, you should pay attention to the following aspects
Gloves should fit snugly to the hand (it is important to choose the right size)
Good gloves should not cause tension and discomfort.
Gloves should not reduce tactical sensitivity.
The number of substances that cause an allergic reaction should be minimal (often provoked by latex proteins and other components added during production).
Signets must be durable – this is especially important when interacting with sharp instruments.
Medical gloves allow doctors to ensure safe work with the patient, without putting either clients or themselves at risk.
To choose the right gloves, you need to classify products depending on the conditions of use. Based on the procedure. It is necessary to determine the type of gloves purpose material of manufacture method of processing the inner surface shape and size.
Currently there are no reliable methods for processing consumables, so reuse of medical gloves is strongly discouraged. In this regard timely purchase of products is necessary so that examination and surgical gloves can be replaced in case of violation of their integrity.
An alternative to latex
Until recently gloves were made only from latex, which is obtained from the sap of rubber trees. But due to the large number of people prone to allergic reactions. New materials suitable for use in the manufacture of gloves have appeared on the market.
Neoprene (polychloroprene) nitrile polyisoprene and polyurethane. They are resistant to damage and various chemical solvents, and do not cause dry skin.
Disposable gloves are quite common. They are convenient to use where there is no contact with blood. They are relatively inexpensive but do not differ in high strength. According to official statistics, every tenth medical worker is allergic to latex.
Blue, brown or green
Among the usual products you can find gloves in blue, green, yellow, red, orange and other colors. This is a marking that indicates the type of material. For example, latex gloves come in white, yellowish, ivory, or brown, suitable for working with a microscope. Blue or green coloring is a kind of warning signal for allergy sufferers.
When gloves are needed
Even when using medical gloves do not forget about washing and antiseptic hand treatment. Keep in mind that no gloves are 100% germ-proof.
Liquid penetrates the material in 43 percent of vinyl and 9 percent of latex applications. In addition, they are unable to protect the skin from sharp objects. Chemicals also lead to product damage – contact with ethanol causes significant changes in the structure.
It is not recommended to wash hands with gloves between examinations of patients or during various manipulations. This increases the permeability of the material and does not completely remove contaminants.
Medical gloves began to be widely used at the beginning of the 19th century. However, the automation of production has led to the inevitable percentage of defects in batches of goods. Therefore, it is customary to indicate AQL on packages – an acceptable level of product quality. According to the European standard, the coefficient should not exceed 1.5, and in Russia – 2.5, depending on the type of gloves.
