Disposable gloves are one of the basic and important medical equipment products needed by all medical practitioners. Surgeons wear it not only to protect themselves but to also protect the patients. Even though it is easy to settle for a brand in this category of medical products, it is important to consider the quality, standard and material composition of the disposable gloves. If these are not considered before a brand is chosen for use in a hospital, clinic, or laboratory, the lives of patients and staff may been dangered.
How to Identify and Choose the Best Disposable Gloves
Medical product suppliers such as Bellmed.com can provide different kinds of disposable gloves for medical use. However, before you settle for any brand, you should consider the following factors:
Consider the type of Glove Material
Medical gloves were initially made with latex, nitrile, or vinyl until the recent introduction of specialty gloves. Latex gloves are made of natural rubber, nitrile gloves are made of synthetic material while vinyl gloves are made of polyvinyl chloride. Specialty gloves can be made of any one of the mentioned materials but they are usually reinforced with other materials so as to enhance grip.
Choose Non-allergenic Gloves When there’s Latex Allergy
Patients and/or medical professionals could be allergic to any of the materials that disposable gloves are made of. A doctor who is allergic to rubber should not be given latex gloves, neither should a patient with latex allergy be treated with gloves made with latex.
Instead, other options like synthetic or vinyl gloves should be considered. The type of task the gloves would be used for should also be considered before settling for an alternative.
Always Consider Staff and Patient Safety
It is true that all gloves are worn for the protection of patients and staff but the materials these gloves are made of determines their protective strength. Popular options like gloves made with latex are frequently used because they perfectly fit the hand and are cost-effective. However, in people with allergies, they should be substituted with gloves made from hypoallergic materials such as vinyl. These are also cost-effective, but they are best for protection during low-risk tasks and for handling non-hazardous materials. Nitrile gloves are also great but they are more expensive.
Consider Gloves with Additional Features.
To completely make a decision on which disposable gloves is best,you should know the different types of disposable gloves. There are gloves that are sterile or non-sterile, specialty and powdered or non-powdered gloves.
Powdered gloves are gloves with powder within them. This powder is usually cornstarch because of its non- allergenic property. Powdered gloves are popularly used among health care professionals because they are easily worn and removed. However, the powder also confers a disadvantage when there is an open cut on the skin because the powder can get into the wound and delay wound healing.
Powdered gloves such as latex powder gloves are easy to wear,however medical professionals have been reported to develop an allergy to latex gloves after considerable exposure to the material. In such cases, a sterile glove made with chlorinated latex should be used. This kind of glove prevents allergic reactions.
There are also some other gloves which are enhanced with emollients like aloe and oatmeal. The aloe moisturizes the hands of the caregiver while the oatmeal protects skin.
Choose the Best Gloves Based on Its Use
Generally, medical gloves can be divided into gloves for examination and surgery. The risk of staff exposure varies in these two tasks. Examination gloves are expected to provide some protection against blood or bodily fluids while surgical gloves are expected to provide high-quality protection against blood and bodily fluids. There are also some specialty gloves designed for chemotherapy-related tasks.
Settling for a Glove Brand or Material
It is conspicuous to note that none of the criteria mentioned earlier signifies that a brand of glove material or type is better than the other. Hence, there are no best disposable gloves. Choosing the best disposable gloves should be determined based on the staff who will be using it, the patient to be treated and the purpose of use. The cost of these different gloves should also be considered, even though safety should not be sacrificed for cost.
