Evaluation of the effects on the tensile properties of medical gloves after repeated disinfection

Abstract

Abstract This study was aimed to explore the effects of the disinfectants commonly used in the hospitals on the tensile properties of the medical gloves with the different materials. Three types of medical gloves, composed of latex, nitrile, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), were exposed to common chemical disinfectants to analyze the effects on the tensile properties. Ethanol-based hand rub(EBHR) and chlorine antiseptic were selected for testing. testers wear the gloves for hand hygiene. The effect on the tensile properties of medical gloves after repeated disinfection was analyzed in comparison with the control group (untreated glove was investigated in comparison with the control group (untreated glove was studied in comparison with the control group (untreated gloves). The latex gloves and nitrile gloves performed well within ten treatments of either EBHR or chlorine antiseptic. On the other hand, PVC exam gloves showed significant changes in tensile strength and elongation at breakage. This was especially true for treatment with 500 mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant. Repeated wiping with disinfection can affect the tensile properties of disposable medical gloves,especially PVC exam gloves,which is security risk.

Keywords

• Gloves
• Disinfection
• Tensile strength
• Elongation at breakage
• Hand hygiene