The Type of Gloves To Use According tot eh Level of Risks Involved
By: Jason Maxwell
Submitted: 2011-04-13 23:20:34 | Word Count: 446
Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals use medical gloves so that they won't be in contact with any infectious diseases. So far, medical gloves have been effective in providing the much needed barrier between a health worker and a sick person. But it is important to understand the various levels of risks that each case may involve in order to determine the type of glove that will provide the most protection. Various biocontaminants are breeding in hospitals which can cause diseases at varying strengths. Analyzing the risks posed by each medical situation is, thus, vital to determining which type of glove is best used.
Those that do no involve body fluid contact between health professional and patient, and where the patient has no cuts or breaks in the skin are considered low risk medical scenarios. One example is a nurse dispensing medications, a cafeteria attendant handling food, an orderly transporting a patient on a wheelchair, and a doctor conducting a routine physical exam. These are non-sensitive situations and can be handled well with the use of vinyl or latex gloves.
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There is body fluid contact between the care provider and the patient and there are factors that could lead to the puncture of gloves in a medium risk medical setting. Invasive procedures such as IV insertions or injections, rectal exams, dressing of wounds and care for an incontinent patient are involved in this type of setting. Latex, nitrile and neoprene are three glove types that are highly recommended to provide maximum protection for both the sick person and the caregiver.
High-risk medical situations include those where a patient is positive or suspected positive for HIV and other serious, contagious diseases, where the caregiver is assigned in the ICU or emergency department and where a patient is brought in for chemotherapy. For example, when handling substances used for chemotherapy, the caregiver should wear puncture-resistant gloves to protect himself against radioactive agents that will be used during the session. Latex, nitrile and neoprene gloves are highly recommended because of their strength and resistance to punctures for these situations.
Other than risk aspects, health care professionals may also choose gloves dependant on their reaction to the materials used. By way of example, latex gloves may be the most common and durable among all other types. Even so, a lot of people are allergic to latex. Hence, they may use neoprene or isoprene as an alternative that offers the same protection but not the risk of developing allergies.
Author Resource:-
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