Surgical gloves are a type of medical device and yet another important component of the personal protective equipment (PPE).
The primary intention of surgical gloves is to act as a defending barrier to prevent the potential transmission of diseases between healthcare professionals and patients during any surgical procedures.
The healthcare workers habitually wear these gloves as they need to work with bodily fluids and with the sickest, most infectious patients.
Surgical gloves have more defined sizing specifications as they need to be worn for longer periods and range from size 5.5 to size 9. Some first-time users may need time to find the right size to fit on to their hands.
Overall, the surgical gloves made of latex act as the most effective barrier for bacteria and viruses. Also, to prevent cross-contamination in medical setups these surgical latex gloves are used to ensure hand protection.
In hospitals, every healthcare worker should follow hand hygiene before and after treating patients using surgical latex gloves.
Precautions before wearing Surgical Sterile Gloves
- Choose the right size of gloves.
- Ensure that the gloves are tight enough so that the objects are easy to pick up.
- Hands should be washed before wearing and after removing the gloves after any and every procedure.
- Confirm with the patient for any latex allergy before wearing sterile gloves.
- Prepare the patient and keep all the supplies ready before wearing the sterile gloves for any procedure.
Making of Surgical Gloves
Surgical gloves are often made of high-quality natural rubber latex or synthetic materials such as nitrile or vinyl. But the majority of the surgical gloves are made of latex. These gloves are disposable and should be used only once. The gloves made of latex have excellent elasticity and fit. Surgical gloves that are made of latex provide an effective barrier against biological contaminants.
Shelf-life of Surgical Gloves
The disposable latex surgical gloves have a shelf-life of three years and the disposable nitrile gloves have a shelf-life of five years.
Benefits of Surgical Latex Gloves
- Tactile
- Durable
- Have an anatomic shape that ensures a perfect fit.
- Provide an enhanced grip while performing surgeries.
- Easy to wear and remove.
- Flexible.
- Provide excellent fit and comfort.
- Have excellent elasticity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of gloves do surgeons use?
Surgeons use latex and vinyl gloves for low-risk, general procedures like non-invasive physical examination. Latex and nitrile gloves are commonly used where the surgeons need to deal with high-risk situations involving blood, bodily fluids, or patients with infectious diseases.
What are latex gloves good for?
Commonly, latex gloves offer the best protection against bacteria and viruses while synthetic gloves provide better chemical protection.
What is the powder in latex gloves?
Medical gloves are made of different polymers like latex, nitrile rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and neoprene. These gloves are either powdered or non-powdered. Powdered gloves contain corn starch that acts as a lubricant, in turn, making them easier to put on the hands.
How long does the latex rash last?
Latex rash may lead to an allergic reaction such as contact dermatitis which may take several days to appear. The rash usually lasts for several days to a week but if the exposure to latex continues the rash will last longer.
Where to buy Surgical gloves?
Surgical gloves are available in Hyderabad at:
TrueCare Surgicals (Store 1)
Address: H.No 1-100, G2, Hitech City main road, Opposite Indian Oil Petrol Pump, Madhapur, Hyderabad, Telangana 500081.
TrueCare Surgicals (Store 2)
Address: Nizampet X road, Near Sri Holistic Hospital, Behind Vasireddy Swagruha Foods, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500072.