title: Bacterial contamination of surgical gloves by water droplets spilt after scrubbing.
abstract: Wound infection and deep sepsis can have disastrous consequences, particularly in orthopaedic surgery. Strict protocols, ultra-clean air, prophylactic antibiotics, and impervious gowns and drapes, have all been shown to diminish wound infection. However it remains a common and significant problem. The water droplets spilt from the surgeons hands after meticulous scrubbing with povidone iodine were cultured. The permeability of the surgical glove packaging to Gram-positive bacteria was also investigated. The water droplets from the surgeon's arms contained environmental and potentially pathogenic bacteria including a micrococcus, a coliform and coagulase-negative staphylococci. The paper packaging for the range of sterile surgical gloves tested was discovered to be permeable to Gram-positive bacteria. In conclusion accidental water droplet contamination of surgical gloves is a potential source of infection. Alternative recommendations are made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Bristol, Winford Unit, Avon Orthopaedic Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. jimbo@gnarly99.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Titcomb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bowker
authors.forename: J R W
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hardy
mesh_terms: D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology