title: Double gloving as self protection in abdominal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate if double gloving can reduce the rate of perforation of glove barriers during abdominal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  County hospital, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  400 glove barriers from principal surgeons and first assistants used at consecutive abdominal operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each participant was randomised to wear either a pair of single or double gloves.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of perforated glove barriers in the two study groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  40 single glove barriers perforated (20%) and in 8 of the double glove group both gloves perforated (4%) (p < 0.001). Glove barriers on non-dominant hands were more often perforated than those on dominant hands, and both the duration of the operation and the seniority of the doctor were associated with increased rates of perforation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Double gloving reduces the rate of perforation of glove barriers during abdominal surgery and thereby the number of episodes in which transmission of disease from patient to surgeon would be possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fabrin
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control