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Infection with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-I (HTLV-I) is now a global epidemic, affecting 10 to 20 million people. This virus has been linked to life-threatening, incurable diseases, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), and HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), as well as several chronic illnesses, such as uveitis and dermatitis. The cumulative lifetime risk of developing these incurable diseases is approximately 5% in asymptomatic patients. For operating room personnel performing surgery among patients from high-risk groups, HTLV-I and its associated diseases are presenting an increasing challenge. This report describes its transmission, seroprevalence, treatment, and public health initiatives that must be instituted to prevent the spread of this retrovirus. Coinfection with HTLV-I and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been shown to accelerate the progression of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

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The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical performance of new powder-free commercially available synthetic examination gloves to that of commercially available powder-free latex examination gloves. The synthetic gloves were significantly thinner than the latex gloves. Despite the decreased thickness, all three nitrile gloves, as well as the polyvinyl chloride glove, exhibited a greater resistance to glove puncture. The glove donning forces varied considerably among all gloves, and wet donning forces were greater than dry donning forces. Under dry conditions, the donning forces for the synthetic gloves were less than or equal to the forces for the latex gloves. Because of their increased puncture resistance and similar donning forces, synthetic gloves are a safe alternative to latex examination gloves.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate ten commercially available latex, powder-free surgical gloves and four commercially available non-latex, powder-free surgical gloves using standardized, reproducible biomechanical parameters that included glove thickness, puncture resistance, and glove donning force. For all gloves tested, with one exception (Neolontrade mark PF), puncture resistance increased for double-gloves as compared to single-gloves. In addition, single-glove thickness was not a reliable determinant of puncture resistance for either latex or non-latex gloves. For the latex gloves, the Ultrafree double and single-gloves exhibited the highest puncture resistance. The glove donning forces for the Biogeltrade mark M and Biogel Sensortrade mark single-gloves were the lowest. In contrast, the Biogel Revealtrade mark and Encoretrade mark Ultra-Thick exhibited the lowest double-glove donning forces. On the basis of these performance tests of latex gloves, the surgeon should consider the Biogel Reveal as well as the Ultrafree gloves for their latex double-glove system. For the non-latex gloves, the Pure Advantage Nitriletrade mark glove had the highest puncture resistance for one layer and two layers of glove material. The thin Pure Advantage Nitrile glove was the most resistant to glove puncture. The Pure Advantage Nitrile glove had low glove donning forces for both single-glove donning configurations and double-glove donning configurations. Consequently, we recommend the Pure Advantage Nitrile glove as the powder-free, non-latex, double-glove system.

The purpose of this study was to compare the resistance to viral penetration of powder-free synthetic examination gloves with powder-free latex examination gloves commonly used in hospitals. Because these gloves had no holes, this study examined viral penetration through a membrane. Using a standard bacteriophage penetration model, no bacteriophage penetration was detected through the membrane for any of the gloves tested. The new powder-free nitrile and polyvinyl chloride synthetic examination gloves provided comparable resistance to viral penetration as did the powder-free latex examination gloves.

The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical performance of commercially available orthopedic gloves to that of a single surgical glove, as well as a double glove system. The orthopedic gloves were found to be thicker than the single surgical glove. This increased thickness of the orthopedic glove was associated with a greater resistance to glove puncture. The thickest orthopedic gloves also had reduced tactile sensitivity when compared to the single surgical glove. In addition, the glove donning forces and glove hydration rates varied considerably. These latter biomechanical performance parameters were not significantly related to glove thickness. The double glove systems tested in this study had similar performance characteristics in regard to many of the orthopedic gloves. The glove donning forces for the double glove systems were the lowest of the gloves tested. In addition, the double glove systems displayed the greatest resistance to glove hydration of the gloves tested. Their performance in the glove hydration tests and the force required to don the double glove systems were much more desirable than any of the orthopedic gloves. The results of this study indicate that the double glove systems may provide a desirable alternative to the use of the single orthopedic gloves.