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ou've come to the right place if your surgeons and OR staff
aren't happy with the gloves they're using, or if you're just
looking for a better glove or a better deal. Not only will we
break down a product category that continues to evolve and innovate,
but we'll also highlight some of the many interesting surgical glove
options out there so you can know if a glove is worth trialing.
Easy-to-don powdered gloves were banned by the FDA in 2017, and
latex gloves, which many surgeons prefer, are being phased out by
many facilities because of the risk of allergic reactions to surgeons,
staff and patients. That's led to a range of powder-free, non-latex, syn-
thetic options. Pardon the pun, but there's no one-size-fits-all gloves
solution.
There are numerous factors you should consider when thinking of
buying surgical gloves.
• Know your materials. If it weren't for the allergy risks, time-tested
latex gloves would likely still be the gold standard for many surgeons.
They gained a deserved reputation over decades for their durability,
comfort, safety and feel, and many surgeons who never experienced
an allergic reaction associated with their use have been reluctant to
give them up. As with many things in health care, some clinicians
understandably feel that if something isn't broken, it doesn't need fix-
ing. And for quite a while, synthetic alternatives to natural latex sim-
ply weren't up to their standards.
With an increasing number of facilities moving away from latex, the
goal of synthetic gloves is to replicate the satisfyingly tactile feel and
dexterity that latex provided with materials that don't present allergy
risks to surgeons, staff or patients.
Surgical Gloves
Find the fit, feel and level of protection your surgeons and staff desire.
Thinking of Buying …
Joe Paone | Senior Associate Editor