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Is the use of boxed gloves in an intensive care unit safe?
1Department of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
Purpose:
To identify the type, rate, burden, and pattern of contamination of boxed, clean but nonsterile gloves in our intensive care unit (ICU).
Materials And Methods:
The fingertips of the first, middle, and last two pairs of gloves in 29 boxes in routine service in our ICU were cultured. The first of each of these three sets were removed aseptically, the second in a routine fashion.
Results:
We found 16 of 29 (55%) first pairs removed aseptically to be contaminated with a mean bioburden of 1.8 colony-forming units (CFU). The percentage contamination and bioburden did not change significantly with position in the box. Use of routine compared with strict aseptic technique increased the rate of contamination by only 11% (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.05 to +0.27 percentage points) and bioburden by only a mean of 3.4 colonies per pair (CI -0.51 to +4.90 CFU). The length of the time the boxes were open and in use was unrelated to whether the final aseptically removed pair was sterile or contaminated. The predominant organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci.
Conclusions:
One half the pairs of latex examination gloves in our ICU were sterile despite repeated barehanded access to the boxes. Those contaminated exhibited a small bioburden of low pathogenic potential. No pattern of contamination or unsafe duration of box use were observed. The use of boxed, clean, nonsterile gloves appears safe for routine use in an ICU.
Insights
Boxed, nonsterile gloves in intensive care units (ICUs) show low contamination rates. Most contamination had low pathogenic potential, suggesting routine use is safe for infection control.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Microbiology
- Healthcare Safety
Background:
- Nonsterile gloves are widely used in healthcare settings, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Assessing contamination of these gloves is crucial for maintaining patient safety and preventing healthcare-associated infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the contamination type, rate, burden, and pattern of boxed, clean, nonsterile gloves used in an ICU.
- To evaluate the safety of routine glove use in high-risk environments.
Main Methods:
- Cultured fingertips of gloves from 29 boxes in routine ICU service.
- Compared aseptic versus routine glove removal techniques.
- Analyzed contamination based on glove position within the box and duration of box use.
Main Results:
- 55% of aseptically removed gloves showed contamination, with a mean bioburden of 1.8 colony-forming units (CFU).
- Contamination levels did not significantly vary by glove position or duration of box use.
- Routine glove removal slightly increased contamination rate and bioburden compared to aseptic technique.
Conclusions:
- Despite frequent access, half of the gloves remained sterile.
- Contaminating organisms were primarily coagulase-negative staphylococci, posing minimal pathogenic risk.
- Boxed, clean, nonsterile gloves are deemed safe for routine use in ICUs.