[Criteria for choice and purchase of gloves: quality or cheapness? The role of the Occupational Health Physician].
BACKGROUND
The choice of gloves in the healthcare settings is very important because of the high biological and chemical risks present in these workplaces. In order to rationalize and optimize this choice we must balance cost, quality, security and comfort.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyse the rules in force and to point out the relevant role of the Occupational Health Physician in the right choice and purchase of sanitary gloves.


METHODS
We reviewed the rules in force and the most relevant studies on these topics.


CONCLUSIONS
The regulations in force provide that the manufacturers must perform tests to supply evidence for the quality of the products but they do not indicate which analytical method should be used and they do not require that the results are reported in the technical sheets. Thus the manufacturers have only to declare to be "in accordance with the rules". Therefore purchasers should require the manufacturing companies to give detailed information and verify their reliability. Moreover rules could be adapted to higher quality standards. The Occupational Health Physician should suggest the purchase of gloves with high biocompatibility, assuring the protection from the risks of specific tasks and suitable for preventing the onset of new glove-related diseases and the relapses in workers with already diagnosed occupational diseases.
Servizio di Medicina e Sorveglianza Sanitaria dei Lavoratori, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda Milano, Milano. gianpaolo.micheloni@ospedaleniguarda.it
G
G
Micheloni
Adriana
A
Baruffini
D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010819:Physician's Role