William Halstead is the surgeon given credit for the introduction of surgical gloves
in 1896. As chief of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, his nurse, Caroline Hampton
(later to become his wife), developed a severe dermatitis from mercuric chloride,
the disinfectant used to clean instruments and hands. As a result, he asked the
Goodyear Rubber Company to make rubber gloves. These gloves were developed not to
protect the patient but rather to protect the hands of those providing healthcare.
Goodyear made two pairs of rubber gloves with gauntlets. They proved so effective
in protecting Caroline Hampton’s skin that they became a common item used in the
operating room.
Halstead’s glove request came at a time of early discoveries in the relationship
between infection control and improved patient outcome. In 1847 in Paris, Semmelweis
detected a link between infection and death in maternity patients cared for by physicians
who were not washing their hands. In 1843 in the United States, Oliver Wendell Holmes
was also drawing conclusions about the spread of puerperal fever by the hands of
HCWs.
Those early gloves were not the thin barrier protection of today. They were thick
and reusable, sterilized by boiling, and donned over wet hands. As sterilization
techniques were refined, wet glove over wet hand donning was eventually abandoned
and the use of powdered lubricants came into fashion. Gloves continued to be reused
but were washed in mild soap, rinsed in distilled water, inspected for holes and
tears, and then allowed to dry. They were then handpowdered in a powder box before
being wrapped and steam-sterilized.
Extra powder packets were also available for the surgical team to apply to their
hands just prior to donning. Finally, in 1966, single-use powdered gloves became
available, and these continue to set the standard of care today.
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Information and Professional Groups:
FDA CDRH–Medical Glove Powder Report
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Current MSDS for Mercuric Chloride–Skin Protection:
Wear impervious protectiveclothing, including boots, gloves, lab coat, apron orcoveralls,
as appropriate, to prevent skin contact.
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