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Concentration of bacteria passing through puncture holes in surgical gloves
Julian-Camill Harnoss1, Lars-Ivo Partecke, Claus-Dieter Heidecke
1Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
Background:
The reasons for gloving-up for surgery are to protect the surgical field from microorganisms on the surgeon's hands and protect the surgeon from the patient's microorganisms. This study measured the concentration of bacteria passing through glove punctures under surgical conditions.
Methods:
Double-layered surgical gloves were worn during visceral surgeries over a 4-month period. The study included 128 outer gloves and 122 inner gloves from 20 septic laparotomies. To measure bacterial passage though punctures, intraoperative swabs were made, yielding microorganisms that were compared with microorganisms retrieved from the inner glove layer using a modified Gaschen bag method.
Results:
Depending on the duration of glove wear, the microperforation rate of the outer layer averaged 15%. Approximately 82% of the perforations went unnoticed by the surgical team. Some 86% of perforations occurred in the nondominant hand, with the index finger being the most frequently punctured location (36%). Bacterial passage from the surgical site through punctures was detected in 4.7% of the investigated gloves.
Conclusion:
Depending on the duration of wear, surgical gloves develop microperforations not immediately recognized by staff. During surgery, such perforations allow passage of bacteria from the surgical site through the punctures. Possible strategies for preventing passage of bacteria include strengthening of glove areas prone to punctures and strict glove changing every 90 minutes.
Insights
Surgical gloves develop unnoticed microperforations, allowing bacteria to pass through. This study measured bacterial contamination through glove punctures during surgery, highlighting the need for improved glove integrity and timely changes.
Area of Science:
- Surgical infection control
- Microbiology
- Medical device integrity
Background:
- Surgical gloves protect both patients and surgeons from microbial contamination.
- The study investigated the passage of bacteria through microperforations in surgical gloves during procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify bacterial contamination passing through surgical glove punctures.
- To assess the frequency and characteristics of glove microperforations during visceral surgeries.
Main Methods:
- Double-gloved hands were used in 20 septic laparotomies over 4 months.
- Bacterial passage through 128 outer and 122 inner gloves was measured using intraoperative swabs and a modified Gaschen bag method.
Main Results:
- An average of 15% of outer gloves had microperforations, often unnoticed (82%).
- Perforations were most common on the non-dominant hand's index finger (36%).
- Bacterial passage through punctures occurred in 4.7% of gloves.
Conclusions:
- Surgical glove microperforations are common, often undetected, and permit bacterial passage.
- Strategies to reduce bacterial transmission include enhancing glove durability and changing gloves every 90 minutes.
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