Vinyl versus latex gloves as barriers to transmission of viruses in the health care setting.
One type of vinyl and seven types of latex gloves without visual defects were tested with respect to their barrier function against high concentrations of three viruses of varying size: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1, 180 nm), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1, 100 nm), and echovirus type 9 (Echo 9, 25 nm). Viral suspensions of HSV-1 (10(8) TCD50/ml), HIV-1 (10(5) TCD50/ml), and echovirus type 9 (10(7.5)TCD 50/ml) were placed in an inverted glove finger immersed in media and maintained for 3 h at room temperature with sampling performed from outside the glove at 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h. No cytopathic effect (CPE) was identified after inoculation onto Vero cells or RhMK cells for HSV-1 and Echo 9, respectively, and reverse transcriptase activity was not detected in Hut 78 cells after inoculation of HIV-1 during any of the time intervals. Stretching of a glove finger for 18 h with repetition of the procedure with Echo 9 revealed no CPE. We conclude that under these experimental conditions, intact gloves act as effective barriers to the transmission of viral particles, including HIV in the health care setting.
Zbitnew
A
A
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Greer
K
K
Heise-Qualtiere
J
J
Conly
J
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004457:Echovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D014771:Virion; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
D007840:Latex; D014753:Vinyl Compounds