Incidence of Perforation of Single and Double Gloves during Surgery

With increasing awareness of the possibility of exposure to blood borne pathogens during surgery, surgeons are becoming more and more concerned with protecting themselves against such exposures. Wearing of double pair of gloves is one method to protect against such exposures. The present study was carried out to evaluate the incidence of perforation of single and double gloves during surgery. 100 surgeries conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala were taken for study, 50 using single gloves and 50 using double gloves. Gloves of surgeons, first assistant and scrub nurse were tested for perforations by air inflation test and water filling test. It was found that there was no significant difference between the incidences of perforation in single glove (24%) versus double outer glove (26%) but a significant difference was observed in the incidence of perforation in single glove (24%) versus double inner glove (6%). Of total perforations, surgeons were aware of only 42% of perforations. Index finger and thumb of non dominant hand were mostly affected. It was concluded from the study that double gloving offers significantly better protection than single gloving.