THE INCIDENCE & PATTERN OF MICRO PERFORATION OF SURGICAL GLOVES AFTER SINGLE USE

Aim & Objectives: Concern about the transmission of infection from patients to healthcare workers & vice versa is increasing. According to occupational safety & health administration, USA guidelines, gloves must be worn whenever there is a reasonable likelihood of contact of body fluids of patients to health personnel's in order to prevent contamination. The aim of this study is to report the pattern & incidence perforation of surgical gloves after single-use during different dental &maxillofacial surgical procedures & also to compare the perforation rate in single & double gloving methods during different elective& emergency oral & surgical procedures.Material & Methods: This prospective study was done for six months in the department of oral &maxillofacialsurgery. All the gloves used during elective & emergency, minor & major surgical procedures were collected. Both visual & hydro insufflations techniques were used to check the gloves for perforation & parameters were recorded.Results: A total of 1000 gloves were recorded, used in emergency& elective procedures. The percentage of operating doctor, assistant nurses was recorded. 34.54% gloves used in IMF were perforated.22.14% gloves used in Trans alveolar extraction with burs and 13.33% sharp surgical instruments perforated gloves.Suture needles perforated 18% gloves and needle pricks during extraction perforated 12% gloves. The overall perforation rate in all surgical procedures mentioned above was 18.62%.The chi square value: 114.129 and p value < 0.001.Conclusions: Double gloving method reduces the risk of contamination from patient to operating staff & vice versa by reducing the inner glove perforation