A novel glove box design decreases glove box surface contamination and glove waste

Background

Non-sterile, disposable medical gloves are essential for reducing the risk of cross-contamination in healthcare settings. However, glove boxes and unused gloves can become contaminated during the act of glove withdrawal, potentially increasing the risk of pathogen transmission.

Aim

To compare glove box surface contamination and glove loss between a novel glove box, designed to better facilitate glove withdrawal, and a standard glove box.

Methods

In a non-blinded, non-randomized study at Medline Industries LP, 30 adult participants wore finger paint-coated gloves and withdrew gloves from both glove boxes, with two participants assigned to each box. Participants stopped after 125 glove pull attempts or as soon as all gloves had been removed from the box. Finger paint was reapplied as needed, or after every 25 glove pull attempts. Surface contamination was assessed by finger paint coverage on the box surfaces (inside, outside, total). Glove loss was measured by subtracting the total number of glove pull attempts from the total number of gloves in each box. Statistical analyses included paired Student's t-tests and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with results significant at P < 0.05.

Findings

The novel glove box had significantly less contamination on the inside (P = 0.0006) and total (P = 0.0328) box surfaces, and fewer gloves lost (P = 0.0009) compared to the standard glove box. No significant difference was found with respect to outside surface contamination.

Conclusion

This novel glove box design may help reduce glove waste and box surface contamination, potentially lowering the risk of pathogen transmission in healthcare settings.