title: A study on powdering of reusable surgical gloves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the need of powdering surgical gloves and to produce a powdering machine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The need of powdering surgical gloves was done by questionnaires to directors or chiefs of purchase departments in 29 hospitals across the country. The practice in powdering surgical gloves was given by chiefs of the central sterile supply department (CSSD). A powdering machine was produced by the researchers in consultation with CSSD personnel in a hospital. The quality of powdering surgical gloves was evaluated by infection control nurses in the hospital. Cost comparison was done by a health economist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study in 2002 revealed that all of the 29 hospitals used recycled surgical gloves. Powdering of surgical gloves was done by hand in 27.6% and by powdering machine in 62.10%. Corn powder was used in 55.2% and talc in 41.4%.Defects in powdering ranged from 1.1% to 51.7%. No defects was found in surgical gloves powdered by the machine produced by the researchers. The costs for powdering and one pair of reused surgical gloves were 0.10 and 5.59 baht respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical gloves were reused in all hospitals in Thailand The powdering machine was effective and was not difficult to make.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine,Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. sisdc@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Somwang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danchaivijitrmd
authors.forename: Pairoj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suwanasuthi
authors.forename: Rachada
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cherdrungsi
authors.forename: Yuwadee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tuntiwattanapibul
mesh_terms: D002495:Central Supply, Hospital; D004868:Equipment Failure; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics*; D011208:Powders / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D011208:Powders