Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 43, Issue 3 , Pages 362-370 , March 2004

Sterile versus nonsterile gloves for repair of uncomplicated lacerations in the emergency department: A randomized controlled trial

  • Vsevolod S. Perelman, MD, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, North York General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for reprints: Vsevolod S. Perelman, MD, MSc, Department of Emergency Medicine, North York General Hospital, 4001 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario, M2R 1E1 Canada; 416-650-1212
    • ,
  • Gregory J. Francis, MD, BSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Tim Rutledge, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, North York General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • John Foote, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Department of Emergency Medicine, Credit Valley Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Frank Martino, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Emergency Medicine, William Osler Health Centre, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • George Dranitsaris, MSc(Pharm)

      Affiliations

    • Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Received 6 January 2003 ,Revised 8 September 2003 ,Accepted 17 September 2003.

References 

    References
  1. Berk WA, Welch RD, Bock BF. Controversial issues in clinical management of the simple wound. Ann Emerg Med. 1992;21:72–80
  2. Maitra AK, Adams JC. Use of sterile gloves in the management of sutured hand wounds in the A&E department. Injury. 1986;17:193–195
  3. Rossoff LJ, Lam S, Hilton E, et al.  Is the use of boxed gloves in an intensive care unit safe?. Am J Med. 1993;94:602–607
  4. Sadowski DA, Pohlman S, Maley MP, et al.  Use of nonsterile gloves for routine noninvasive procedures in thermally injured patients. J Burn Care Rehab. 1988;9:613–615
  5. Burke FJT, Wilson NHF. Non-sterile glove use: a review. Am J Dent. 1989;2:255–261
  6. Burke FJT. Use of non-sterile gloves in clinical practice. J Dent. 1990;18:79–89
  7. Giglio JA, Rowland RW, Laskin DM, et al.  The use of sterile versus nonsterile gloves during out-patient exodontia. Quintessence Int. 1995;26:533–534
  8. Angeras MH, Brandberg A, Falk A, et al.  Comparison between sterile saline and tap water for the cleaning of acute traumatic soft tissue wounds. Eur J Surg. 1992;158:347–350
  9. Valente JH, Forti RJ, Freundlich LF, et al. Wound irrigation: tap water or saline? [abstract] Acad Emerg Med. 8:539.
  10. Riyat MS, Quinton DN. Tap water as a wound cleansing agent in accident and emergency. J Accid Emerg Med. 1997;14:165–166
  11. Ruthman JC, Hendricksen D, Miller RF, et al.  Effect of cap and mask on infection rates in wounds sutured in the emergency department. Ill Med J. 1984;165:397–399
  12. Bodiwala GG, George TK. Surgical gloves during wound repair in the accident-and-emergency department. Lancet. 1982;2:91–92
  13. Worral GJ. Repairing skin lacerations: does sterile technique matter?. Can Fam Physician. 1987;33:1185–1187
  14. Simmons BP. CDC guidelines for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections: guideline for prevention of wound infections. Am J Infect Control. 1983;11:133–143
  15. Singer AJ, Hollander JE, Quinn JV. Evaluation and management of traumatic lacerations. N Engl J Med. 1997;337:1142–1148
  16. Rutherford WH, Spence RAJ. Infection in wounds sutured in the accident and emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 1980;7:350–352
  17. Hollander JE, Singer AJ, Valentine SM, et al.  Risk factors for infection in patients with traumatic lacerations. Acad Emerg Med. 2001;8:716–720
  18. Gosnold JK. Infection rate of sutured wounds. Practitioner. 1977;218:584–585
  19. Caro DB, Surtees SJ. Prevention of wound sepsis in a casualty department. Br Med J Clin Pract. 1967;21:605–607
  20. Van Zyl A, Abbott D, Andrews D, et al.  Routine use of antibiotic ointment and wound healing [letter]. J Accid Emerg Med. 2002;19:556
  21. Hollander JE, Singer AJ, Valentine S, et al.  Wound registry: development and validation. Ann Emerg Med. 1995;5:675–685
  22. Norman GR, Steiner DL. In: PDQ Epidemiology. 2nd ed.. London, England: B.C. Decker; 1998;p. 53
  23. Zinner NL. How safe are your gloves?. AORN J. 1994;4:876–882
  24. Fiehn NE, Westergaard J. Physical and microbiological quality of five different examination and surgical gloves before and after use in dental practice. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed. 1993;195:27–36
  25. Edwards J. Check for mould on non-sterile examination gloves [letter]. New Z Dent J. 1994;399:20

☆ Author contributions: VSP, GJF, and TR developed the study and received research funding. The study was designed and administrated by VSP and GJF. JF, FM, and TR were the site directors at their respective sites and also contributed to the final manuscript. GD was responsible for consultation about statistical analysis and also contributed to the development of the manuscript. VSP and GJF reviewed the literature and drafted the manuscript. TR and FM provided significant input into the final draft of the manuscript. VSP, GJF, and TR are the principal investigators by virtue of their significant involvement. VSP takes responsibility for the paper as a whole.Preliminary results presented in poster format at the Section of Teachers and the Section of Researchers of the College of Family Physicians of Canada annual workshop; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; October 1999.Completed study presented in poster format at the International Conference of Emergency Medicine; Edinburgh, Scotland; June 2002.Awarded the Canadian Research Award for Family Medicine Residents by the Research Foundation of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Provincial Association of Interns and Residents of Ontario.Supported by research grants from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and the Bales Research Foundation of North York General Hospital.The investigators did not receive any grants or financial support of any kind from any glove manufacturers or other pharmaceutical industry sources.

PII: S0196-0644(03)00969-7

doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2003.09.008

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 43, Issue 3 , Pages 362-370 , March 2004

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution