Knowledge
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The dangers of powder in surgical gloves

The dangers of powder in surgical gloves have long been known and well-documented. Eliminating the use of glove powder can help eliminate several adverse health effects that may result from its use, such as postoperative adhesions, granulomas, wound contamination and delayed wound healing 1 2.

Surgical glove powder can cause the following adverse health effects:

Increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs)

Glove powder can trigger reduced resistance to infection, bacterial environmental contamination, foreign body reaction, delayed wound healing, adhesion formation and granuloma formation 1 2. All of these potential consequences can increase the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) 3.

Latex allergy and occupational asthma

Powdered latex gloves have been implicated as the largest single contributor to the latex aeroallergen levels in a healthcare facility 4  5. Latex proteins can be aerosolized by attaching to glove powder. This not only increases the risk of acquiring a latex allergy, but can also increase the risk of acquiring occupational asthma 6 .

Glove powder increases latex allergy sensitization, potentially eliciting delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Powdered surgical gloves show higher levels of natural rubber latex allergens than gloves that are powder-free. This allows for the potential increase in latex sensitization and/or Type I reactions upon direct and indirect contact 7  8  9  10  11

Biogel surgical gloves: powder-free since 1984

Every single Biogel® surgical glove is powder-free, and has been for over 40 years.

Biogel sold the world's first powder-free surgical glove in 1984, and over 40 years later, Biogel is still the only major surgical glove brand with an exclusively powder-free range.

    1. van den Tol MP, et al. Glove powder promotes adhesion formation and facilitates tumour cell adhesion and growth. Br J Surg. 2001;88(9):1258-1263.
    2. Edlich RF, et al. Dangers of cornstarch powder on medical gloves: seeking a solution. Ann Plast Surg. 2009;63(1):111-115.
    3. Suding P, et al. Glove powder increases staphylococcus aureus abscess rate in a rat model. Surg Infect. 2010;11(2):133-135.
    4. Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. AORN latex guideline. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. 2012:605-620.
    5. Burlingame, B., Conner, R. Recommended practices for a safe environment of care. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices 2013;217-242.
    6. Hoy RF, et al. Occupational exposures and the development of new-onset asthma: a population-based cohort study from the ages of 13 to 44 years. J Occup Environ Med. 2013;55(3):235-239.
    7. Barbara J, et al. Inhaled cornstarch glove powder increases latex-induced airway hyper-sensitivity in guinea-pigs. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004;34(6):978-983.
    8. Grunewald J, et al. Lung accumulations of eosinophil granulocytes after exposure to cornstarch glove powder. Eur Resp J. 2003 [cited 14 Sep 2017];21(4):646-651. URL: http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/4/646.long.
    9. Filon L, et al. Latex allergy: a follow up study of 1040 healthcare workers. Occup and Environ Med. 2006;63(2):121-125.
    10. Kelly KJ, et al. Prevention of IgE sensitization to latex in health care workers after reduction of antigen exposures. J Occup Environ Med. 2011;53(8):934-940.
    11. Hunt TK, et al. Starch powder contamination of surgical wounds. Arch Surg. 1994;129(8):825-827.