Basic Hygiene Gloves and Protective Wear

Gloves and protective wear

Hardly any tool can be as closely associated with hygiene in the veterinary practice and clinic as the medical examination glove. It is almost indispensable in every area. On the other hand, the sterile surgical glove is an important preventive measure in areas where protecting patients and staff also has a high priority. B. Braun offers a wide range of protective gloves for a wide variety of requirements and uses. These include those with excellent barrier properties against common cytotoxic drugs, selected medications and chemicals.

Gloves can generally be classified as either a medical device (MD) or personal protective equipment (PPE). These primarily serve to protect both the patient and the wearer. PPE protects the wearer from chemical and physical risks as well as biological substances. ^[1]

Our recommendation: powder-free gloves

B. Braun offers powder-free alternatives made from natural latex, nitrile, vinyl or polyisoprene to minimize the risk of skin intolerances and allergies. We recommend using powder-free gloves at all times.  

Depending on the activity, gloves are worn in the following situations:

• Contact with potentially infectious materials such as bodily fluids and pathogens found in contaminated materials.
• Contact with mucous membranes, particularly during thorough examinations of the jaw cavity and preputial or vaginal examinations.
• Contact with potentially infectious patients or patients with severe immunosuppression.
• Implementation of operational and diagnostic measures.
• Handling of chemicals during cleaning and disinfection activities.
• Handling of cytotoxic drugs / chemicals.
• When working in the laboratory.
• During reprocessing of medical devices and dirty linen
     

Use protective gloves correctly:

• Do not use powdered latex gloves to protect against allergies.
• Make sure hands are clean and dry before donning.
• Use gloves only once to ensure their protective effect.
• Wear gloves for as long as is necessary and for as short a time as possible.
• If you use the gloves for more than 15-20 minutes, consider wearing a cotton glove to protect against moisture. ^[1]
  

   
Further tips on protecting and caring for your hands can also be found in the recommendations of the Employers’ Liability Insurance Association for Health Services and Welfare Care – BGW: Skin protection as a priority

Technical information

The choice of gloves should be in line with the specific activity and/or the respective hazardous substances. Details can be found in the data sheets for the respective products.

_{[1] Robert Koch Institute (RKI) (2016): Hand hygiene in healthcare facilities: Recommendation of the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz 59 (9), S. 1189-1220.}