Reference Manual - IARC Screening Group

APPENDIX FPROCESSING SURGICAL GLOVES 1The risk in reusing surgical gloves is that processed gloves contain moreinvisible tears than new ones and therefore provide less protection to thewearer. Sterilization (autoclaving) and high-level disinfection (steamingor boiling) of gloves, when correctly performed, can provide a highquality product. In addition, double-gloving for high-risk procedures canbe done. Therefore, processing surgical gloves constitutes anappropriate reuse of disposable items where resources are limited(Daschner 1993).HOW TO DECONTAMINATE AND CLEAN SURGICAL GLOVES BEFORESTERILIZATION OR HIGH-LEVEL DISINFECTION (HLD)STEP 1: Before removing soiled gloves, immerse hands briefly in acontainer filled with 0.5% chlorine solution (or other locallyavailable disinfectant).STEP 2:Remove gloves by turning inside out and soak in the chlorinesolution for 10 minutes.(Performing Steps 1 and 2 insures that both surfaces of the gloves aredecontaminated.)STEP 3: Wash gloves in soapy water, cleaning inside and out.STEP 4: Rinse gloves in clean water until no soap or detergentremains. (Residual soap or detergent can interfere withsterilization or HLD.)STEP 5: Test gloves for holes by inflating them by hand and holdingthem under water. (Air bubbles will appear if there are holes.)STEP 6: Gently air dry gloves inside and out before proceeding withsteam sterilization. (Gloves that remain wet for long periodsof time will absorb water and become tacky.)Note: Gloves should be discarded after processing three times becauseinvisible tears may occur with additional processing (Bagg, Jenkins andBarker 1990; Martin et al 1988).1Adapted from: Tietjen L, W Cronin and N McIntosh. 1992. Infection Prevention for Family Planning ServicePrograms: A Problem-Solving Reference Manual. Essential Medical Information Systems, Inc.: Durant, Oklahoma.Cervical Cancer Prevention Guidelines for Low-Resource Settings F-1