IN THE US ALONE
TOTAL ANNUAL BENEFITS FROM
BANNING POWDERED GLOVES
ARE ESTIMATED TO RANGE
BETWEEN $26.6M
AND $29.3M
AT LEAST 93% OF
MEDICAL PROVIDERS
HAVE SWITCHED TO
NON-POWDERED GLOVES
AEROSOL GLOVE POWDERS
CAN RESULT IN
POST-OPERATIVE
WOUND INFECTIONS
|
|
| RISKS TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS | |
| 1 |
POWDER binds with latex allergens and increases risk of Type I latex sensitivity and respiratory and skin allergy symptoms.1,2 |
| 2 |
POWDER binds with latex allergens and acts as a vehicle which when aerosolised increases latex protein by up to 300 times more versus powder-free.3 |
| 3 |
POWDER causes mechanical irritation, creating roughness of the skin as indicated by laser profilometry.1 |
| 4 |
POWDER causes skin to become alkaline, believed to be responsible for irritative skin reactions.1 |
| 5 |
POWDER may interact with some alcoholbased handrubs.4 |
| RISKS TO PATIENTS | |
| 1 |
POWDER binds and transports latex allergens, 5 increasing risk of potentially life threatening Type I allergic response in sensitised patients.3 |
| 2 |
POWDER increases the transport and spread of potentially infectious microorganisms and acts as a food source enhancing bacterial growth and risk of post-operative infection.3 |
| 3 |
POWDER may enhance the inflammatory response and delay wound healing.5 |
| 4 |
POWDER can cause starch induced peritonitis, intra-peritoneal granulomas and adhesions.5 |
| 5 |
POWDER can cause misdiagnosis of cancer due to granulomas.3 |
|
|
Choosing powder-free becomes the obvious choice, for everyone around the globe. While implementing a latex, powder-free environment is estimated to cost between $75,000 and $200,000 per year, indirect costs associated with powdered gloves may be substantial. (xxxiv)
“It makes sense on every level for providers to move away from the outdated and unnecessary use of powdered natural rubber latex gloves.”
- Cost and Time when following proper washing protocol
- Latex allergy costs include defending litigation; the financial judgment after a patient injury due to latex exposure; and compensation of healthcare workers who have developed latex hypersensitivity because of repeated exposure to latex products during their employment. (xxxiii)
- Powder-related surgical site infections (SSIs) could offset gloves costs as studies have shown individual SSI costs ranging from $11,000 to $30,000 in the US, (xxxvi) $6,624 to $28,534 in Japan, (xxxvii) and a 60.6% increase in hospital costs in Switzerland per SSI (xxxviii)
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SUBMIT1. Brehler R, Rütter A, Kütting B. Allergenicity of natural rubber latex gloves. Contact Dermatitis. 2002 Feb; 46(2):65-71
2. Korniewicz, D., Chookaew, N., Brown, J., Bookhamer, N., Mudd, K., & Bollinger, M. (2005). Impact of Converting to Powder-Free Gloves: Decreasing the Symptoms of Latex Exposure in Operating Room Personnel. Workplace Health & Safety, 53, 111 - 116
3. Edlich RF, Long WB 3rd, Gubler KD, Rodeheaver GT, Thacker JG, Borel L, Chase ME, Cross CL, Fisher AL, Lin KY, Cox MJ, Zura RB. Citizen’s Petition to Food and Drug Administration to ban cornstarch powder on medical gloves: Maltese cross birefringence. Am J Emerg Med. 2009 Feb;27(2):227-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2008.10.009. PMID: 19371533.
4. World Health Organization. 2009. Glove Use Information Leaflet. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Glove_Use_Information_Leaflet.pdf [Accessed December 3, 2020]
