Latex-free gloves: safer for whom?

Abstract

Increasing latex hypersensitivity among patients and health care workers has prompted the development of latex-free surgical gloves. Latex-free gloves must perform equally as the existing latex standard. We analyzed perforation rates in a clinical trial comparing latex and a latex-free alternative during primary hip and knee arthroplasty. The overall latex glove perforation rate was 8.4% compared with 21.6% for the latex-free alternative (chi(2) P < .001). The operation perforation rate for latex gloves was 34.4% compared with 80% for latex-free gloves (chi(2) P < .001). We suggest that the latex-free glove tested cannot provide a reliable barrier between the surgeon and the patient. As such, we question the safety of these gloves and the standards sets by the regulators.