title: A global inventory of hospitals using powder-free gloves: a search for principled medical leadership.
abstract: Scientific experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that cornstarch on surgical and examination gloves promotes disease by acting as a reactive foreign body in tissue and serving as a vector for latex allergy. Consequently, hospitals have selected an innovative glove selection program utilizing only powder-free gloves. Healthcare workers in emergency medical systems are now wearing powder-free, latex-free gloves to care for the growing number of patients sensitized to latex. A global Internet search has now identified 70 hospitals in the United States and three hospitals in Europe that use only powder-free gloves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arnette
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frost-Arner
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Edlich
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D011208:Powders / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013213:Starch / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011208:Powders; D013213:Starch