A clinical evaluation of glove washing and re-use in dental practice

This study has assessed the durability of four brands of latex gloves, Ansell Medical 'Medi-Grip', Regent 'Biogel D', Surgikos 'Microtouch' and the London Rubber Company 'Supreme', under conditions of repeated washing and re-use in a clinical dental setting. The microbiological effectiveness of 'Hibiscrub' as a decontaminating washing agent was examined simultaneously. Examination by an electrical test for micropunctures in 200 unused gloves of each brand revealed such defects in 6(3%) of Ansell 'Medi-Grip', 3(1.5%) of 'Biogel D', 14(7%) of Surgikos 'Microtouch' and 2(1%) of LRC 'Supreme' gloves. Following repeated clinical use, micropunctures were detected in 18% of Ansell 'Medi-Grip', 10% of 'Biogel D', 75% of Surgikos 'Microtouch' and 56% of LRC 'Supreme'. Microorganisms were isolated from the glove surfaces after 45% of the occasions on which the gloves were washed for 1 min in 'Hibiscrub' (ICI Dental). Eighty-five per cent of these isolates were environmental organisms, but oral streptococci were isolated from 8.4% of the pairs of gloves examined. The high rate of micropuncture development following repeated washing and re-use of latex gloves indicates that they cannot effectively perform their barrier function under such conditions. The microbiological data have also revealed the potential for cross-infection between patients through inadequate decontamination of glove surfaces. For operative dental surgery, the results suggest that heavier, surgical type gloves are to be preferred, and that multiple use of any glove type should be discouraged.