What Is the Role of Nitrile Gloves in Healthcare Safety

Safety and hygiene are critical in all healthcare facilities, whether hospitals, long-term care facilities, or clinics. It directly affects the health of your patients and healthcare staff. There is compelling evidence that using Infection Prevention And Control (IPC) best practices, including hand hygiene, can reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) by 35-70%.

Maintaining hand hygiene also involves using nitrile gloves. These disposable gloves help prevent infections and cross-contamination. They protect everyone involved in healthcare delivery, including patients, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals.

At Total Pharmacy Supply, we provide nitrile gloves suitable for various healthcare applications. We recommend using disposable nitrile gloves to keep your healthcare staff and patients safe.

Let’s take a closer look at nitrile gloves, their benefits, and applications.

What Are Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are an excellent alternative to latex gloves. These disposable gloves do not contain latex, which makes them suitable for people with latex allergies. The manufacturing process involves removing latex proteins using acrylonitrile and butadiene monomers.

Nitrile gloves offer superior resistance to punctures and chemicals. You can use nitrile gloves in various healthcare applications, from general exams to home healthcare. They provide a safe hand hygiene option for patients and healthcare professionals alike.

What Are the Benefits of Nitrile Gloves in Healthcare

Although latex gloves are popular, disposable nitrile gloves offer a few unique advantages that their latex counterparts cannot. There are four undeniable benefits of nitrile gloves, which include:

• High Puncture Resistance:

This is the most important benefit of nitrile gloves. They offer superior protection against punctures than other types of gloves. In other words, they are your best bet when handling needles and sharp instruments.

Nitrile gloves can significantly reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries, which is highest among nurses (52.4%), followed by cleaners (22.3%) and physicians (18.5%). Needle stick injuries can cause blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.

• Chemical Resistance:

Disposable nitrile gloves have a remarkable chemical resistance. You can use them to handle hazardous medications and disinfectants. They can keep your healthcare staff, including cleaners, safe from chemical exposure during cleaning and disinfection tasks. Nitrile gloves also provide protection when handling chemotherapy agents.

• Allergy-Friendly:

According to the American Dental Association, 8-12% of healthcare workers have a latex allergy. Latex can also cause allergic reactions in some patients. This makes nitrile gloves a safer option for healthcare professionals and patients.

• Easy-To-Use:

Nitrile gloves are easy to don and doff, like the sterile nitrile exam gloves TPS supplies. These ambidextrous gloves come with textured palms for increased grip and a minimum of 4 mm thickness for increased tactile sensitivity.

They have a polymer lining and beaded cuff, which prevent tears and ensure the gloves are easy to don. That means you can quickly change these gloves between tasks and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Where Can You Use Nitrile Gloves in Healthcare

You can use nitrile gloves in various healthcare applications. Some typical applications of these gloves include:

• General Examinations:

Disposable nitrile exam gloves are commonly used during patient check-ups. These gloves prevent infections and cross-contamination during routine check-ups.

• Surgical Procedures:

Surgeries involve using sharp objects like scalpels. Sterile nitrile gloves are suitable for surgical procedures due to their high puncture resistance. They can keep your healthcare staff safe from blood-borne infections and diseases.

• Laboratory Work:

Lab technicians often have to handle hazardous chemicals. As nitrile gloves have high chemical resistance, they are suitable for lab work.

• Emergency Services:

First responders have to deal with severe injuries, which expose them to bodily fluids. Nitrile gloves provide an effective barrier against potential cross-contamination and infections. They are critical for immediate care without compromising safety.

• Dental Practices:

Dentists and dental hygienists rely on disposable nitrile gloves to prevent cross-contamination between patients. These gloves are critical in maintaining oral health and hygiene in dental clinics.

• Pharmacy Services:

Pharmacists use nitrile gloves when handling medications and filling prescriptions. This simple precaution prevents cross-contamination and ensures the integrity of medicines.

• Cleaning and Sanitation:

Cleaning and sanitization are non-negotiable in healthcare facilities. Your staff can use nitrile gloves when handling disinfectants and cleaning agents. These gloves protect them from potential infections and injuries.

• Handling Hazardous Materials:

Healthcare workers have to handle hazardous waste. This is where disposable nitrile gloves come in. They prevent skin contact and contamination when handling such materials.

• Long-term Care and Assisted Living:

Long-term care facilities often treat patients who are more vulnerable to infections and cross-contamination. Sterile nitrile exam gloves offer excellent protection against potential infections and contamination in these sensitive settings.

• Home Healthcare:

Patients and caregivers in home healthcare are also susceptible to infections and cross-contamination. Nitrile gloves can help you ensure safety when handling a patient at home.

How to Choose the Right Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are critical for ensuring safety in healthcare facilities. You need to choose the right glove to protect yourself and your patients from the potential risks. Here's how you can select the right nitrile gloves:

• Choose the Right Size and Thickness: Choose gloves that fit well. Usually, sterile nitrile exam gloves come in small, medium, and large sizes. Choose the ones that offer a good fit and allow you to do your job comfortably. Likewise, choose the right thickness to prevent wear and tear during the procedure. Be aware that sharp objects can still puncture your gloves.
• Correct Usage: You may need different gloves for different medical procedures. For example, you can use nitrile exam gloves for routine check-ups. However, you may need thicker gloves for handling hazardous chemicals or bio-waste. Be sure to choose the gloves suitable for the desired application.
• Disposal Practices: Follow your facility's protocols to dispose of gloves. Proper disposal reduces the risk of infections and cross-contamination. After removing the gloves, wash your hands thoroughly with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Never reuse your nitrile gloves.

Conclusion

Nitrile gloves are your first line of defense against potential infections and cross-contamination. They help maintain basic hand hygiene in sensitive settings like operating rooms. As a healthcare provider, you need to understand their benefits, applications, and how to select the right nitrile gloves. This knowledge helps ensure safety in your healthcare facility.

As your go-to source for nitrile gloves and other pharmacy supplies, Total Pharmacy Supply is here to help you and your patients stay safe. Our products can help you provide the best-in-class healthcare without compromising safety. Browse our inventory or call (800) 878-2822 now.