Gloves | 2 min read

The dangers of powder in surgical gloves

The dangers of powder in surgical gloves have long been known and well-documented. Eliminating the use of glove powder can help prevent several adverse health effects that may result from its use, such as postoperative adhesions, granulomas, wound contamination and delayed wound healing^1,2.

Surgical glove powder can cause the following adverse health effects:

Increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs)

Glove powder can trigger reduced resistance to infection, bacterial environmental contamination, foreign body reaction, delayed wound healing, adhesion formation and granuloma formation^1,². All of these potential consequences can increase the risk of SSIs³.

Latex allergy and occupational asthma

Powdered latex gloves have been implicated as the largest single contributor to latex aeroallergen levels in a healthcare facility^4,⁵. Latex proteins can be aerosolised by attaching to glove powder. This not only increases the risk of acquiring a latex allergy, but can also increase the risk of acquiring occupational asthma⁶.

Glove powder increases latex allergy sensitisation, potentially eliciting delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Powdered surgical gloves show higher levels of natural rubber latex allergens than gloves that are powder–free. This allows for the potential increase in latex sensitisation and/or Type I reactions upon direct and indirect contact^7,^8,^9,^10,¹¹.

Biogel^® surgical gloves: powder-free since 1984

Biogel^® introduced the world’s first powder–free surgical glove in 1984 and, more than 40 years on, remains the only major brand offering an exclusively powder–free range.

See our range of Biogel gloves

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References
Van den Tol, M.P. et al. Glove powder promotes adhesion formation and facilitates tumour cell adhesion and growth. British Journal of Surgery. 88. 1258-1263. 2001.

Edlich, RF et al. Dangers of Cornstarch Powder on Medical Gloves. Seeking a Solution. Ann of Plastic Surgery. Jul: 63(1):1 2009. (in Mölnlycke Health Care archives).

Suding P, et al. Glove powder increases staphylococcus aureus abscess rate in a rat model. Surg Infect. 2010;11(2):133-135.

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. AORN latex guideline. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. 2012:605-620.

Burlingame, B., Conner, R. Recommended practices for a safe environment of care. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices 2013;217-242.

Hoy RF, et al. Occupational exposures and the development of new-onset asthma: a population-based cohort study from the ages of 13 to 44 years. J Occup Environ Med. 2013;55(3):235-239.

Barbara J, et al. Inhaled cornstarch glove powder increases latex-induced airway hyper-sensitivity in guinea-pigs. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004;34(6):978-983.

Grunewald J, et al. Lung accumulations of eosinophil granulocytes after exposure to cornstarch glove powder. Eur Resp J. 2003 [cited 14 Sep 2017];21(4):646-651. URL: http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/4/646.long.

Filon L, et al. Latex allergy: a follow up study of 1040 healthcare workers. Occup and Environ Med. 2006;63(2):121-125.

Kelly KJ, et al. Prevention of IgE sensitization to latex in health care workers after reduction of antigen exposures. J Occup Environ Med. 2011;53(8):934-940.

Hunt TK, et al. Starch powder contamination of surgical wounds. Arch Surg. 1994;129(8):825-827.