Reutilización de guantes: tres métodos de revisión de roturas

Abstract

As the reutilization of gloves is common practice in Chilean hospitals the current use of air insuflation testing is analyzed. Compared with electric testing, only 41% of ruptured gloves are detected by air insuflation. A random sample of 108 gloves used by surgeons and assistants in major surgery, in El Salvador Hospital was collected during June 1989. First the gloves were tested with an electric circuit, then with air insuflation and finally they were filled up with water. 31% were detected ruptured with the electric circuit, 18.5% with water and 13% with air. The insuflation with air is the most sensitive of the methods used in the hospitals of the NSHS and yet compared with the electric circuit method, it only detected 41% of the ruptured gloves. This means that a considerable proportion of recirculating gloves are unsuitable, a fact extremely worrying for patients and staff alike.