caa a22 4500 475782577 CHVBK 20180406123648.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170329e20001201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1023/A:1008913814999 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1023/A:1008913814999 The protective efficacy of surgical latex gloves against the risk of skin contamination: how well are the operators protected? [Elektronische Daten] [R. Hentz, G. Traina, R. Cadossi, P. Zucchini, M.A. Muglia, M. Giordani] Latex gloves are used by surgical staff to avoid exposure to patient body fluids, thus reducing the risk of contracting bloodborne viral diseases, such as hepatitis C and HIV. We studied the efficacy of the surgical barrier provided by latex gloves, before and after use in the operating theater. The electrical conductivity, insulation and mechanical resistance of glove latex were investigated, using routine supplies of surgical gloves. Latex structure was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Latex is subject to hydration, a phenomenon associated in the laboratory with the loss of its electrical insulation properties. Such glove latex properties were found to be highly variable, with latex hydration times varying between 2 and more than 30 min. Rapidly hydrating gloves showed increased permeability to methylene blue, associated with higher levels of porosity. Thirty min of surgical use was associated with measurable hydration of glove latex and a statistically significant loss of electrical and mechanical resistance, with rupture load decreasing by 24%. Electronic control of the insulation properties of gloves during surgery permits early detection of hydration, and allows prompt correction by glove change, before the gloves lose their electrical and mechanical competence. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000 Hentz R. Hand Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA aut Traina G. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ferrara, Italy aut Cadossi R. Department of Medical Oncological and Radiological Sciences, University of Modena, Italy aut Zucchini P. Department of Medical Oncological and Radiological Sciences, University of Modena, Italy aut Muglia M.A. Department of Morphological and Medicolegal Sciences, University of Modena, Italy aut Giordani M. Department of Engineering and Materials Science, University of Genoa, Italy aut Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine Kluwer Academic Publishers 11/12(2000-12-01), 825-832 0957-4530 11:12<825 2000 11 10856 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008913814999 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008913814999 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Hentz R. Hand Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Traina G. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ferrara, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Cadossi R. Department of Medical Oncological and Radiological Sciences, University of Modena, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Zucchini P. Department of Medical Oncological and Radiological Sciences, University of Modena, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Muglia M.A. Department of Morphological and Medicolegal Sciences, University of Modena, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Giordani M. Department of Engineering and Materials Science, University of Genoa, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine Kluwer Academic Publishers 11/12(2000-12-01), 825-832 0957-4530 11:12<825 2000 11 10856 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer