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Discussion

Gloves & Allergies

I've been in health care for about 5 years both EMS/hospital. Up until last summer, all the places I worked had nitrile gloves. However, since the summer I've been using non-powdered latex. Well, now I am awaiting my blood work for a suspected latex allergy. (I think it might be contact irritant dermatitis from my internet investigations). The alternative at my facility are vinyl gloves.

Since looking up allergies, I'd learned that vinyl gloves have an increased failure and transmission rate. When I asked employee health, I was told nitrile are way too expensive. But now I'm getting mad that I'll be stuck were substandard gloves.

What gloves are used at your facility? Any recent changes to nitrile and how did it happen.

I'm the floor representative for the research council and I'm thinking about proposing this as a topic and using it as my clinical packet.

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    • Expert
    I've been in health care for about 5 years both EMS/hospital. Up until last summer, all the places I worked had nitrile gloves. However, since the summer I've been using non-powdered latex. Well, now I am awaiting my blood work for a suspected latex allergy. (I think it might be contact irritant dermatitis from my internet investigations). The alternative at my facility are vinyl gloves.

    Since looking up allergies, I'd learned that vinyl gloves have an increased failure and transmission rate. When I asked employee health, I was told nitrile are way too expensive. But now I'm getting mad that I'll be stuck were substandard gloves.

    What gloves are used at your facility? Any recent changes to nitrile and how did it happen.

    I'm the floor representative for the research council and I'm thinking about proposing this as a topic and using it as my clinical packet.

    My facility was very good at ordering me the gloves I needed, and I worked in a specialty unit.

    Ask them which is more expensive, the gloves or a lawsuit when you have a reaction to the latex.

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    • Expert
    My facility was very good at ordering me the gloves I needed, and I worked in a specialty unit.

    Ask them which is more expensive, the gloves or a lawsuit when you have a reaction to the latex.

    They are not telling her to suck it up and wear the latex, they are offering her vinyl, a non-latex alternative, she just doesn't like it.
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    I, too, am allergic to latex and have been for going on 15 years. In my experience, it is easier for me to purchase my own nitrile gloves and use them at work if management is difficult. I also take them with me to the dentist as I've found several dentists that "forget" to reorder non latex gloves (my kids are also allergic to latex). Just a thought, if you are truly concerned about the vinyl not being as protective, at lease until you can convince your facility to purchase the nitrile again.

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    We use vinyl gloves. Nitrile for chemotherapy patients. Your facility is correct that nitrile gloves are way more expensive than vinyl. I've never had a problem using vinyl gloves nor have I been concerned while using them or considered them to be "sub-standard".

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    • Expert
    They are not telling her to suck it up and wear the latex, they are offering her vinyl, a non-latex alternative, she just doesn't like it.

    I got that, as well as why she has reservations about using them.

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    Wow, I had no idea places still use latex. I guess I should be thankful we're all nitrile at my facility. Good luck. If you can find evidence based research that says vinyl gloves aren't safe, I can't imagine they have much of a leg to stand on. I'm not familiar with the topic.

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    I sympathize for the OP, there are concerns about vinyl vs. nitrile. My unit uses nitrile and has for years. We frequently have infants with spina bifida and it is recommended they never get exposed to latex.

    Strangely enough we still have a few packets of sterile gloves around that are latex. I remember using latex gloves and the only issue I've personally ever had with them was the powder gave me a reaction. I have never felt I had the same fine skills with other kinds of gloves. Nitrile have been the second best though in my experience for overall performance. We have vinyl gloves in our straight suction kits and they don't have as much "give" as nitrile so they are prone to ripping as you try to pull them on.

    I'm sure you can find statistics on failure rates of vinyl gloves and compare them. Sadly, I'm pretty sure your employer will be unimpressed.

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    My hospital just switched from latex to nitrile and have found that I'm sensitive to the nitrile gloves. Never had a problem with latex (and absolutely loved using latex gloves, especially with IV starts), but the nitrile gloves cause me to break out on the dorsal areas of my hands. Little rashes, red bumps, etc. Just really irritated skin. We have vinyl as well, but I can never get them on without tearing them. However, I have been tossing on a smaller pair of vinyl gloves and then nitrile on top to try and prevent breaking out. So far, so good.

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    I am allergic to Nitrile gloves as well. My allergy developed over time. At this point I can only wear vinyl gloves. They are not great but do the job. I just worry about phthalate exposure.

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    • Expert

    We use all nitrile where I work. We just switched last year.We were told they were stronger and less likely to result in allergic reactions.

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