The types of sharps exposure among medical personnel are significantly higher than in previous years, especially during surgical operations, due to blade cuts, needle stab wounds during suturing, etc. We have discussed this issue, but there is always a question that bothers me and I am thinking about: Is there a better measure to prevent sharps injuries or reduce stab wounds during surgery? Such as whether it is possible to wear double-layer rubber latex surgical gloves, so as to reduce the risk of occupational exposure of the surgeon, while also protecting the patient.
1. The use of double-layer rubber latex surgical gloves during surgery can reduce the risk of surgical exposure
PPE can prevent accidental occupational exposure when blood is spilled, but it cannot prevent needlestick injuries. The use of double gloves during surgery reduces the likelihood of puncture of the inner glove by 60-70%.
Thus, double-layer rubber latex surgical gloves provide a better direct contact barrier between the operator's hand and the patient's surgical site, reducing the risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
Although double gloves do not "protect" from sharp objects, they do reduce the risk of penetration of the inner glove by a factor of 6 and reduce the amount of blood penetration due to the shunting effect of double gloves.
Double-layer rubber latex surgical gloves are worn when operating on infectious patients, such as those with HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, etc., reducing the risk of blood-borne infections.
Surgical staff may suffer from dermatitis from frequent scrubbing of hands, or wear skin abrasion or cuts during other activities that result in incomplete skin, and wearing double gloves can be protective.
High-risk surgery, prone to surgical breakage surgery, it is recommended to wear double-layer rubber latex surgical gloves
2, the surgeon on the operating table to wear a double layer of rubber latex surgical gloves
Wearing method: after the surgical hand sterilization, wear the first layer of sterile gloves, and then wear the second layer of sterile gloves, pay attention to prevent glove contamination.
Wear double layer of gloves method, there is literature on experience: in order to facilitate the wearing of double layer of gloves, someone needs to assist, such as instrument nurses to assist, first to wear the first layer of gloves turned over, folded put on the sterile table, that is, the reverse side of the glove (smooth side) outward, the front of the glove (textured non-slip surface) inward. The second layer of gloves, no need to flip, so as to ensure that between the two layers of gloves is smooth face smooth surface, not astringent easy to wear.
Everything has positive and negative aspects of the pros and cons, wear double rubber latex surgical gloves, in surgical operations will reduce the sensitivity of the operation, affecting some fine operation, some doctors are not used to wear double gloves; at the same time the more gloves used, the more infectious waste generated, how to rational use of gloves, but also to avoid the waste of resources, worth exploring.