Pyrogens from surgeons' sterile latex gloves.
Pyrogens have been detected in water extracts from surgeons' sterile latex gloves, using both the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test and the rabbit test. After the gloves were rinsed with pyrogen-free water, the amount of pyrogens in extracts was markedly reduced. Pyrogens could also be detected in extracts from an angiographic catheter after it had been handled with latex gloves, whereas an unused catheter was free from pyrogens. The incidence of febrile reactions in our catheterization laboratory has been markedly reduced from 11.6% to 0.6% when rinsing the latex gloves prior to the catheterization was included in our routine procedure. So far the absence of pyrogens in surgeons' sterile gloves has not been demanded. Our observations indicate that such a requirement may be justified.
D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008033:Limulus Test; D011749:Pyrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D011817:Rabbits
D011749:Pyrogens