Types of Medical Gloves
Patient safety is a priority for any hospital or healthcare center. Medical gloves are personal protection equipment that protects both, patients and healthcare providers, from the spread of illnesses and infections during medical examinations and procedures. They are single-use, disposable materials. Medical gloves should be worn every time a healthcare worker comes in contact with blood, body tissues, body fluids, broken skin, mucous membranes, etc, i.e when the chances of cross-contamination are at their highest. The major benefit of using a medical glove is that it acts as a shield to protect the body against harmful contaminants. It is designed to fit tightly to the skin, to retain the grip and touch sensitivity of the healthcare giver’s hands. This helps them to perform their tasks with ease and precision. Disposable gloves offer complete protection as they are waterproof and resistant to most substances. The varying thickness and designs of different medical gloves offer sufficient resistance against sharp objects, helping healthcare providers during surgical procedures. It’s quite evident that a lot of decisions and preferences go into choosing the right kind of medical gloves. So let’s understand the different types of medical gloves. Medical gloves are divided into 2 broad categories depending on their purpose of usage. The first one is the surgical glove. Surgical gloves are worn by surgeons and operating room personnel, to perform specific activities with great precision and sensitivity as they direct contact with blood, infections, sharp tools, and other harmful objects and substances that could cause extreme illness or infection. For those who must wear surgical gloves, it’s important that they are of high quality. Surgical gloves are designed with precise sizing and are mostly available as sterile. For your reference, sterile gloves are gloves that have been sterilized,i.e, treated with either ethylene oxide or gamma radiation to eliminate all microbes, and are stored in a sterilized container. Sterile gloves are individually packaged to further prevent contamination while in use. The second category is the examination glove. These are low-cost, general-purpose gloves that are used by caregivers during examination procedures, such as examining glands. They are widely available as non-sterile. Non-sterile gloves are simply gloves that have not been sterilized and are not stored in a sterilized container. Just because gloves have been categorized as "non-sterile", this doesn't mean that they are risky or dangerous to use. At times, sterile examination gloves are used with patients that have a weakened immune system primarily to ensure that there is no contamination or chance of infection in the patient. Medical gloves are further divided based on their make. , the first type is the latex gloves– latex is the classic material medical gloves are made from. These are highly durable and the most comfortable gloves. Latex offers a strong glove that will resist tears and punctures while still giving a lot of touch sensitivity. The second type is nitrile gloves– these gloves are made from synthetic rubber. As it contains no latex it is commonly used as an alternative to latex gloves when allergy is a concern as it still gives a tight fit around the hand. A lot of surgeons prefer nitrile gloves due to their extreme durability and puncture resistance. It is also resistant to chemicals. Some medical gloves (of any material) feature a powder on the inner lining of them. This powder is designed to make it easier to get the glove on and off. These are called pre-powder gloves. However, in some circumstances, this powder can cause an allergic reaction or a sample to become contaminated. In situations where this is an issue, non-powdered gloves or powder-free gloves are used. Certain non-powdered gloves have a textured interior to replace the effect of the powder. In a nutshell, the use of medical gloves in the healthcare sector is mandatory because it ensures the utmost protection for patients and healthcare personnel. However, the choice of gloves mainly depends upon the level of protection needed, the task at hand, and the cost.
