Powdered gloves: Time to bid adieu

I read the article on powdered gloves by Baid and Agarwal with interest.[1] The authors have highlighted the hazards of the powder in the gloves and the need for a ban of powdered gloves. Awareness of the harmful effects of powdered gloves among healthcare workers in Asia is still low. Powdered gloves usually contain cornstarch powder which is added as a donning agent. The powder adsorbs the latex particles and behaves as a carrier, which predisposes to allergy.[2] The amount of powder used in gloves varies. Some of the gloves used in hospitals and health centres in India have very high powder content [Figure 1].

Figure 1.

Powder on the hand of the operator after removing the powdered latex glove

Alternatives to powdered latex gloves [Figure 2a] include nonpowdered latex gloves [Figure 2b] and nonlatex gloves. The various types of gloves are listed in [Table 1]. Nonpowdered latex gloves are a suitable alternative for healthcare workers who do not have latex allergy. Sterile nitrile gloves are not widely available. Nitrile and vinyl gloves are usually used in nonsterile setting. Nitrile gloves [Figure 2c] are highly resistant to tear. They are usually blue or black in color, and if there is a needle puncture, it is easily visible. Vinyl gloves (not shown) are usually transparent and fit loosely. For people with latex allergy, sterile nitrile gloves are the glove of choice; vinyl gloves can be worn in nonsterile environment and when handling nonhazardous material.

Figure 2.

Various types of gloves available in the market (a) powdered latex gloves, (b) nonpowdered latex gloves which can be dark brown or yellow, (c) nitrile gloves (usually blue)

Table 1.

Attributes of various types of gloves

Type of gloves	Advantages	Disadvantages
Powdered latex gloves	Fits very well	Powder is harmful to patients as well as healthcare workers
	Very good tactile perception during procedures
	Cost-effective	Banned in few countries (USA, UK, Germany)
	Elastic
	Useful in high-risk situations
	Biodegradable
Nonpowdered latex gloves	Moulds well	Friction while wearing
	Good tactile perception	Cannot be worn by people with latex allergy
	Elastic
	Useful in high-risk situations
	Biodegradable
Nitrile gloves	Latex free (so can be worn in people with latex allergy)	Less elastic
	Moulds well to fingers	Sterile nitrile gloves are not widely available and are more expensive compared to latex
	Puncture resistant
	Blue or black so any damage can be clearly visualized	Not biodegradable
	Useful in high-risk situations
Vinyl gloves	Latex free	Not useful for sterile environment and handling infectious materials
	Useful for nonsterile environment and handling nonhazardous substances
	Cheap

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Conflicts of interest

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