Search

Objective: To investigate the incidence of glove perforation in programmed surgery and compare perforation rates between single-gloves and double-gloves. To evaluate the extent to which glove perforations remain undetected during surgery., Method: Randomized and controlled trial. A one year of study period in 2008 consisting of programmed surgeries at the Canary Islands University Hospital. Gloves, randomized into single or double, worn by surgeons, assistants and scrub nurses were analyzed using the Water Leak Test (EN455-1) for 3 min after surgery ended to detect leakage., Results: A total of 1537 gloves were examined during 113 operations, 7 perforations were noticed during the operation and 104 unnoticed, especially in mayor surgery. Of these, 43 perforations (41.3%) occurred while wearing single gloves and 51 (49%) in the outer of a double glove. Only 10 perforations (9.6%) were found in the inner glove. The perforation rate for surgeons was 9.85%, were slightly greater than nurses at 6,91%, but significantly greater that the rate for assistants, 4,04% (p<0.001)., Conclusions: We conclude that double gloving is effective in surgery, inasmuch as the barrier protection was maintained by the inner glove in four out of five cases when the outer glove was inadvertently perforated. Surgical teams must balance the improved safety of double gloving with the possible discomfort and reduced sensitivity., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: A basic indicator for assessing a program aimed at improving hand hygiene (HH) is the degree of compliance with the recommendations established for this purpose. The aim of this study is to investigate this indicator and related determinant factors in a general hospital., Methods: We performed 166 observation periods of one hour's duration, distributed over three work shifts and covering all the hospitalization units; 3957 HH opportunities were recorded. Variables associated with the observation period, the professionals involved and the medical activity taking place were also recorded. The Chi-square test, and calculation of the raw OR and the adjusted OR with a logistic regression model were used to study associations between the variables studied and failure to perform HH., Results: The overall frequency of HH activity was 30%, ranging from 8.9% to 60.5% depending on the professional tasks involved. The most important independent risk factors for failure to perform HH were the following: no availability of alcohol in a pocket size bottle (OR: 2.3 [1.7-3.3]); medical activities carried out in the surgical unit (OR: 2.6 [2.0-3.3]); activities taking place before entering into contact with patients (OR: 3.2 [2.4-4.2]); and use of gloves during the activity (OR: 2.2 [1.6-3.2])., Conclusion: The frequency of HH is low, but there are several potentially modifiable factors involved, which could improve with interventions. One example might be better education of hospital personnel on the importance of HH.

We studied the incidence of rupture of surgical gloves used at a general hospital: A) new gloves (n = 114); B) gloves used at a major general, gynecological or urological operation (n = 258), and C) recirculating surgical gloves (n = 86). A special techniques based on transmission of an electrical signal through the rupture was used to identify rupture. Rupture was present in 8.8, 28 and 26% of surgical gloves in groups A, B and C, respectively. Type of surgery or surgeon involved did not influence rupture of gloves in group A. However, rupture increased in relation to the duration of surgery (40% incidence in operations lasting more than 90 min). Our results suggest the need for better quality control of new surgical gloves and glove change after 90 min of operation.