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Glutaraldehyde permeation: choosing the proper glove
S L Jordan1, M F Stowers, E G Trawick
1Union Carbide Corporation, Bound Brook, NJ 08805, USA.
American Journal of Infection Control
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Nitrile and butyl rubber gloves offer superior protection against glutaraldehyde solutions. Latex gloves show limited resistance, but doubling them improves permeation resistance for safer handling.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Materials Science
- Chemical Safety
Background:
- Glutaraldehyde is a widely used disinfectant and sterilant.
- Healthcare professionals require effective personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure.
- Understanding glove permeation is crucial for selecting appropriate PPE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the permeation resistance of various glove materials against different aqueous glutaraldehyde formulations.
- To identify glove types that provide adequate protection during handling of glutaraldehyde solutions.
Main Methods:
- Six distinct glove materials were tested.
- Five different aqueous glutaraldehyde formulations were used.
- Glove permeation was assessed by measuring breakthrough times.
Main Results:
- Nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, synthetic surgical gloves, and polyethylene showed impermeability for over 4 hours against 2% or 3.4% glutaraldehyde.
- Latex gloves exhibited breakthrough within 45 minutes, which extended to 3-4 hours when doubled.
- Against 50% glutaraldehyde, only butyl rubber and nitrile rubber demonstrated extended impermeability.
Conclusions:
- Nitrile and butyl rubber gloves are recommended for handling concentrated glutaraldehyde solutions.
- Double-gloving with latex may offer temporary protection against lower glutaraldehyde concentrations.
- Material selection is critical for ensuring adequate protection against chemical permeation.