Medical Gloves

Today, medical gloves, as an example of personal protective equipment, have attracted special attention. They are used to protect the wearer or the patient from the spread of infection or disease during medical procedures and examinations. The US Food and Drug Administration recognizes this medical device as part of an infection control strategy. One feature of medical gloves is that they are disposable. Three types of medical gloves are currently on the market: examination gloves, surgical gloves and medical gloves. Medical gloves are used for handling chemotherapy agents (chemotherapy gloves). The most important differences between examination and surgical gloves include the following:

As the name suggests, surgical gloves are used by the care team during surgery. They therefore need to be made to a higher quality than examination gloves. Surgical gloves are usually sterile, while examination gloves are available both non-sterile and sterile. Surgical glove sizing is more precise than examination glove sizing.

Medical examination gloves are used to prevent the transmission of contamination. This type of glove is used where sterile conditions are not required, for example blood sampling. Besides their important role in preventing contamination, this medical device protects the wearer from injury caused by hazardous chemicals and drugs.

The materials used to make them are usually latex (natural) or synthetic materials such as nitrile or vinyl. Vinyl gloves are less resistant than other materials and therefore offer less protection. For this reason, this type of glove is not recommended for people who handle bodily waste or chemotherapy drugs.