Latex-Free Gloves:
Safer for Whom?
Abstract
Increasing latex hypersensitivity among patients and health care workers has prompted the development of latex-free surgical gloves. Latex-free gloves must perform equally as the existing latex standard. We analyzed perforation rates in a clinical trial comparing latex and a latex-free alternative during primary hip and knee arthroplasty. The overall latex glove perforation rate was 8.4% compared with 21.6% for the latex-free alternative (χ2 P < .001). The operation perforation rate for latex gloves was 34.4% compared with 80% for latex-free gloves (χ2 P < .001). We suggest that the latex-free glove tested cannot provide a reliable barrier between the surgeon and the patient. As such, we question the safety of these gloves and the standards sets by the regulators.
Keywords: latex glove, latex free, arthroplasty, perforation
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No benefits or funds were received in support of the study.
PII: S0883-5403(08)00812-7
doi:10.1016/j.arth.2008.10.014
© 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
