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The researchers say glove puncture rates vary, although risks
increase to as high as 70% during longer procedures as well as during
surgeries requiring maximum effort in deep cavities and around
bones. They further note that research shows the risk of blood con-
tact is decreased from 70% with single gloves to as low as 2% with
double gloves, likely because the inner glove was shown to remain
intact in up to 82% of cases.
To determine how much blood is transferred through single and
double layers of gloves at the point of percutaneous injuries, the
researchers stuck pork skin with automatic lancets, which simulated
suture needlesticks. According to the findings, a mean volume of
0.064 L of blood is transferred in punctures at a depth of 2.4mm
through 1 glove layer, compared with only 0.011 L of blood through
double-glove layers, which means the volume was reduced by a factor
of 5.8.
Notably, the double gloves used in the study included an indicator
system: a green inner glove worn with a straw-colored outer glove.
According to the researchers, all punctures of the gloves' outer layers
were clearly identifiable by the green coloring of the underglove
showing at the puncture site. The color contrast reduces risk of blood
exposure by alerting surgeons and staff to breaches that may have
otherwise gone unnoticed.
"Double-gloving should be recommended for all surgical procedures
and should be required for procedures performed on patients with
known infections or patients who have not yet been tested for infec-
tions," say the researchers. They also point out that while the protec-
tive effect of double-gloving is evident, it is not yet routine because of
an alleged reduction in dexterity and sense of touch (for evidence to
the contrary, see sidebar below).
D O U B L E - G L O V I N G
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