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Permeability studies on protective gloves used in dental practice.
British Dental Journal
|January 7, 1989
Summary
Dental gloves are crucial for preventing cross-infection, but this study found many brands permeable to bacteria even before use. After wearing, 20-50% of gloves allowed bacterial penetration, highlighting the need for better glove testing.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Materials Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Dental professionals are advised to wear gloves to prevent cross-infection during patient treatment.
- Limited data exists on the permeability of commonly used dental gloves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the permeability of five common dental glove brands to air, electrolytes, dye, and bacteria.
- To assess glove integrity before and after clinical use.
Main Methods:
- Permeability tests were conducted on five glove brands.
- Tests included assessments for air, electrolyte, dye, and bacterial passage.
- Gloves were tested before and after varying periods of wear.
Main Results:
- Only one glove brand passed all pre-wear permeability tests.
- After wearing for up to 3 hours, 20-50% of gloves (brand dependent) permitted bacterial passage.
- Ion and bacterial passage occurred through gloves without visible perforations, indicating limitations of visual inspection.
Conclusions:
- Standard visual inspection is insufficient for assessing glove integrity.
- Many dental gloves exhibit permeability issues, potentially compromising infection control.
- Further research into improved dental glove materials and testing methods is warranted.