Are latex gloves a contributing cause of percutaneous injury in dentists?
Fifty dentists were examined to determine if (and how) latex gloves contributed to percutaneous injury, the leading cause of occupational AIDS/HIV transmission in health care workers. Latex glove wear is closely associated with a 16-fold increase in percutaneous injury with endodontic file manipulation than when subjects were tested barehanded. Dynamometer tests showed a 36 percent decrease in light-touch proprioception in subjects when they were gloved as compared to scores when they were tested barehanded. A 28 percent glove-related dermatitis rate among test subjects is also reported.
Neiburger
E J
EJ
Center for Dental AIDS Research, Waukegan, Illinois, USA.
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity; D009048:Motor Skills; D011434:Proprioception; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000209:etiology*
D007840:Latex