Medical Gloves: Types And Uses

The use of medical gloves is at the very heart of healthcare work. The World Health Organisation defines medical gloves as disposable gloves used during medical procedures. These include examination gloves, surgical gloves, and chemotherapy gloves. Examination gloves and surgical gloves are most commonly used by doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers. Not only do these gloves offer protection to the healthcare workers from contagious pathogens, they are also an essential part of patient care because they protect the already vulnerable patient from further infection and resultant complications.

Exam gloves and surgical gloves

Exam gloves are commonly used by doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers to prevent infections from pathogens. These help to protect our medical professionals from contamination during routine medical examinations. These gloves are also used by a number of people outside the healthcare industry such as pet handlers, gardeners, and auto mechanics. Surgical gloves are used by surgeons, nurses, and operating room (OR) personnel. These are designed to allow for flexibility, sensitivity, and precision allowing for handling of surgical instruments and the other paraphernalia in the OR. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of surgical face masks and medical gloves has found a boost. Even common people are using these as personal protective gear.

Different types of medical gloves by material

The three commonly used material used to produce medical grade disposable gloves are latex, vinyl, and nitrile. Among these latex gloves have been most commonly used through the decades. Latex is a natural sap but it often causes allergic reactions. This and the shortage of latex has led scientists to come up with synthetic alternatives such as nitrile. Nitrile is an increasingly popular choice in the healthcare industry. Vinyl gloves are not very popular yet and are not usually preferred by healthcare workers.

Latex gloves are very comfortable and can be powdered or non-powdered. These are very durable and very sensitive to touch. They are also great fits because they take on the natural shape of the skin. These are the much preferred by surgeons, doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers but could be triggers for those with latex allergies.

Nitrile gloves are the increasingly popular choice for healthcare workers these days. They are highly durable and very resistant to chemicals. They offer excellent protection as they are highly puncture resistant. Being latex free, they do not cause allergies. They also offer great tactile sensitivity and make for excellent surgery gloves too.

Vinyl gloves offer a cost-efficient alternative to nitrile and latex gloves. These are made from polyvinyl chloride and are soft and very comfortable to wear. They also do not cause allergic reactions. Vinyl gloves, however, are not preferred by healthcare workers as they are low on the tactility needed for sensitive work. They are more prone to tears than latex and nitrile gloves too.

Understanding latex allergies

Latex gloves have traditionally been the favoured gloves for surgeons, physicians, doctors, and nurses. Latex allergy is an allergic reaction to some of the proteins found in the natural sap that forms latex. In many cases, latex allergy is triggered by prolonged exposure to the material. This means that while a doctor or a nurse may not start off being allergic to latex, they may develop a latex allergy after a period of time. Latex allergy may cause irritation, hives, wheezing, stuffy nose, asthma, difficulty breathing, and in extreme situations life-threatening shock. These symptoms often manifest within a few minutes of exposure. Minor allergic reactions can be treated with anti-histamines but more severe reactions may require emergency intervention. The fact that latex allergy develops after a prolonged exposure is a key reason why more medical practitioners prefer nitrile gloves these days.

Other considerations while buying medical gloves

Another consideration that is often made while buying medical supplies, gloves in particular, is that if they are powdered or non-powdered. Corn starch powder is often used to lubricate the gloves. This makes it easier to slide your hands into them. Corn-starch has been preferred because it does not cause irritations but sometimes the inner coating of corn-starch can get into wounds of patients and keep them from healing properly. This makes unpowdered gloves the preferred choice of doctors and nurses. These days, however, other synthetic alternatives replace corn starch.