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CategoriesInfection Prevention

The Ongoing Need for Nitrile Exam Gloves and N95 Masks

by sphmedicaladmin

During the pandemic, hospitals and medical professionals couldn’t access enough supplies to properly care for the huge flood of patients. Protective gear like N95 masks and nitrile exam gloves were in short supply, putting doctors, nurses and sick patients at higher risk. These essential supplies are still needed in greater quantities today with hospitals struggling to find enough to keep their staff safe as the pandemic continues.

N95 Masks

N95 masks are still needed in great quantities as prices skyrocket and hospitals struggle to procure enough. N95 respirators are used in a variety of settings from industrial jobs where workers are exposed to dust and air particulates to hospitals where disease and infections can be airborne. N95 masks are intended to be single-use respiratory protective devices to protect both the patient and the medical professional from transferring any particulates, fluids or organisms.N95 Masks for Hospitals Cities and Schools

N95 masks became essential during the pandemic as medical staff wore them to try to avoid the spread of coronavirus. As the pandemic raged, hospitals needed more and more, with some having to resort to repeatedly using their masks or even trash bags to stay safe as available protective gear dwindled. Today, the costs of N95 masks is still higher than it was before the pandemic, unlike other PPE. While the need for N95 has lessened since the middle of the pandemic, there is still a 1,300% increased use rate by medical providers due to the delta variant.

Conventional medical masks are known to have limited capabilities against the coronavirus, with N95 masks being capable of filtering up to 95% of particulates and materials. N95 market growth is expected to continue to rise as strict regulations are being passed for occupational safety in industrial positions as well as for a number of surgeries. There is a greater current need for cataract surgery and orthopedic surgery for which N95 masks are essential to avoid infection.

Tens of millions of surgeries are completed every year globally with about half being minimally invasive. Along with increased surgery rates, there is a driving need to avoid hospital-acquired infections, which continue to be a major concern. There are many aspects of the medical process that increase the chance of acquiring an infection, lowering the chance of a positive outcome and increasing comorbidities. N95 masks are essential in today’s medical environments to ensure all medical staff and patients have the best chance at both becoming and staying healthy.

Nitrile Exam Gloves

Another important personal protection item is nitrile exam gloves. These gloves are stronger than latex and are commonly used in examinations so they’re available in sterile and non-sterile forms. They provide greater chemical exposure protection and high personal barrier protection. Nitrile gloves were in high demand during the pandemic with national stockpiles in several countries depleting as it raged on.

Nitrile Exam Glove Testing 2021

The United States is still on its way to restoring stockpiles and recently signed a production deal that will increase nitrile glove production by billions within the country. There are a number of benefits of using this type of glove in healthcare settings, which is driving the increasing market and need.

Nitrile is a commonly preferred type of material in both medical and industrial settings around the world. Latex-free and with up to three times the puncture resistance of standard latex gloves, these gloves provide maximum protection against a variety of potential infection situations. Infection control and increasing latex allergies are driving factors in the popularity of this type of glove. There is an increased awareness occurring in healthcare settings concerning infection and pandemic diseases like coronavirus and even swine flu.

Medical professionals and facilities want to provide their staff and patients with the best protective gear on the market. As the need for nitrile exam gloves rises to avoid spreading infection and disease, facilities and organizations struggle to procure enough to keep their organization safe. As government agencies struggle to make deals to increase their stockpiles, facilities, first responders and healthcare organizations are also struggling to ensure they can keep up with the delta variant and the increased occurrence of infectious patients still happening around the world today. While the high of the pandemic has passed for now, there are still high rates of coronavirus and other diseases that need to be handled professionally and safely.

Protective Gear; Nitrile Exam Gloves and N95 Masks

Hospitals and other institutional healthcare facilities are still struggling to obtain enough protective gear like N95 masks and nitrile gloves. SPH Medical is a trusted supplier authorized to securely distribute these essential supplies to hospitals that desperately need them. Staying safe, protected and sterile during examinations and surgeries is essential to creating a safe space where patients can achieve their best health outcomes. Having the proper protective gear is important in maintaining the safety of both staff and patients.

SPH Medical Chemo Tested Gloves Protect Nurses
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Chemo Tested Nitrile Exam Gloves

by sphmedicaladmin

When given to people, cancer related chemotherapeutic medications can cause mutagenesis, teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and sterility. The danger varies depending on the substance and its concentration, as well as exposure frequency and duration. As a result, concerns have been raised about the possible dangers to those who work with chemotherapy. Additionally, public health threats coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and revolutions in the medical industry have expanded the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). According to studies, taking precautions when handling chemotherapy or any other public health threat lowers staff exposure and danger. As new PPE rules for handling chemotherapy drugs are introduced, a chemotherapy glove that adequately protects healthcare practitioners while also making double-gloving compliance simple is essential. COVID-19 protocols have heightened the essential need for the Chemo tested Nitrile exam gloves.

What Raw Material Is Used in Making Surgical Gloves Today?

Reusable surgical gloves were once the most popular in the medical field. Handwashing is equated to the efficiency of reusable gloves in reducing pathogen spread. In the 1800s, surgeons’ hygienic standards were of poor quality. The use of harsh chemicals to disinfect medical instruments, on the other hand, produced a demand for a tough raw material in the surgical glove sector. Rubber sourced from Malaysia was chosen as the best material since it does not become abrasive when exposed to strong liquids. While demand was high at the time, it skyrocketed when the AIDS crisis struck. Rubber, however, could induce sensitivities and allergic reactions, necessitating the development of an alternative.

Nitrile is a replica of rubber used in the manufacture of medical gloves. Ketones, amides, aldehydes, and halogenoalkanes are used to make this synthetic substance. The Nitrile Exam Glove is made from acrylonitrile and butadiene compounds. When manufacturing gloves, flexibility, comfort, puncture resistance, and form-fitting must all be considered.

What Is Chemotherapy Drug Testing, and Why Is It Important?

The use of personal protective equipment, particularly protective medical gloves, is a must to avoid skin contact. Additionally, during their work, emergency responders are likely to touch with a variety of illegal narcotics. Cocaine, methamphetamines, cannabinoids, cathinones, and opioids like fentanyl and heroin are just some of the illicit chemicals found in these mixes. Illicit drug use has the potential to cause harm. Although they may not know the components of illicit drug mixes, emergency responders can learn about safe operating procedures and the right use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when responding to situations involving illicit substances as recommended by the FDA.

The importance of selecting the right gloves cannot be overstated. It is critical to establish basic guidelines for selecting appropriate materials and defining quality requirements in the oncology environment for the best protection. These tips can help with better handling and minimize potential risks and long-term consequences. There are no formal regulations or test techniques in Europe for medical gloves used in oncology. It would be beneficial to establish universal criteria for gloves used when handling chemotherapeutic medications. However, in the United States, medical gloves used to handle chemotherapy medications must meet ASTM International (American Society of Testing and Materials) standard D 6978-05 criteria.

How Is the Demand for Chemo Tested Nitrile Exam Gloves?

Doomsday headlines predicted a shortage of ventilators for critically ill patients in the early months of the Covid-19 outbreak. As borders soon closed, states hurried to find masks and gowns, sparking a bidding war for personal protective equipment. Domestic manufacture eventually came to the rescue, producing everything from respirators to face shields. However, as the pandemic enters its second year, one item remains in low supply: medical gloves.

Hospitals favor nitrile gloves because of their hypoallergenic and chemical-resistant characteristics, but they are becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to find at any price. The national stockpile in the United States reported in December that just 72 million gloves were on hand out of a target of 4.5 billion, forcing individual states to navigate a wild market riddled with shadowy intermediaries and black-market brokers, some of whom were obvious frauds. Prices have risen dramatically due to the increased demand: According to Singapore-based Persistence Market Research, a package of 100 nitrile gloves can now cost up to $32, up from roughly $3 pre-pandemic.

Despite the COVID-19 dilemma, the global market for Medical Gloves is expected to increase at a CAGR of 12.4 percent from 2020 to 2027, from a projected $30.9 billion in 2020 to a revised US$70 billion by 2027. Examination Gloves, one of the sectors examined in the Research and Markets, is expected to grow at an 11.2 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and reach US$42.3 billion by the conclusion of the analysis period. After an early assessment of the pandemic’s commercial effects and the resulting economic crisis, the Surgical Gloves segment’s growth is revised to a revised 14.4% CAGR for the next seven years.

Choosing a recognized supplier helps you avoid substandard gloves. SPH Medical specializes in the supply of Personal Protective Equipment. SPH Medical is delivering Chemo Tested Nitrile Exam Glove and is a trusted supplier by hospitals nationwide.

Citations:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijc.29058
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-medical-gloves-market-report-2021-malaysia-is-the-dominant-producer—us-market-is-estimated-at-10-4-billion-while-china-is-forecast-to-grow-at-14-6-cagr-301334928.html

SPH Medical delivers Nitrile Exam Gloves
CategoriesInfection Prevention

The History of Nitrile Exam Gloves for Nursing Safety

by sphmedicaladmin

Nitrile Exam Gloves for Nursing Safety

Disposable gloves are the unsung heroes of healthcare products. They were developed because of a longtime need for the medical industry to implement cleaner standards and offer protection for those who provide healthcare services. Here’s the history and evolution of disposable gloves and how nitrile exam gloves became a necessity for the healthcare industry.

A Start with Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital opened in May 1889, and one of its founding members was Dr. William Stewart Halstead, a medical professional who is known for many important achievements in the medical community. For instance, he developed new surgical techniques for repairing hernias and removing gallstones. Dr. Halstead was also known for being a precise surgeon, one who believed in cleanliness. According to historical research, Halstead created the first surgical glove.

Dr. Halstead married a nurse named Caroline Hampton. She told him that she developed a rash after handling surgical chemicals. Dr. Halstead contacted the Goodyear Rubber Company, and they manufactured a set of rubber gloves for Caroline. She loved them so much that the couple requested more. Soon, Dr. Halstead’s surgical staff began wearing them when performing operations. At the time, his team used them because they increased their dexterity. They were not aware of how the gloves prevented the transfer of germs.

Before disposable gloves, patients who underwent surgery had a 50% mortality rate. Many of these deaths occurred because of germs being transferred from the doctor to the patient. Once the medical community made the connection, doctors began wearing disposable gloves more often. It didn’t take long for hospitals to make wearing them a requirement.

Material Advancements

Until the ‘90s, disposable gloves were typically manufactured from rubber. However, researchers found that rubber latex was unable to block some chemicals from connecting with the wearer’s skin. In 1996, Karen Wetterhahn, a researcher, died after mercury came into contact with her skin.

Later, it was determined that her gloves weren’t thick enough to protect her from the mercury. This incident encouraged researchers to recommend the use of plastic-laminated rubber gloves instead of latex during scientific experiments. Since then, the science and medical community has made material advancements.

Today, disposable gloves are made from materials like:

  • Latex
  • Nitrile
  • Vinyl
  • Neoprene
  • Polyethylene

Nitrile gloves are a popular choice because the material is highly resistant to chemicals. Manufacturers can develop it into a soft film, making them comfortable to wear. The material is exceptionally clean and free of accelerators. These features make nitrile gloves perfect for cleanrooms. Chemo tested nitrile exam gloves protect both the wearer and the patient.

History of Nitrile

Best Manufacturing, which is now Showa Best, developed the technology for nitrile gloves about 15 years ago. Once people discovered how useful the material was, Ansell brought out different glove products such as blue nitrile and purple nitrile gloves. Gloves made from nitrile are not a competing product against latex gloves. Instead, they are produced for people who are working with dangerous chemicals or have an allergy to latex.

Nitrile Exam Gloves Shortage

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of personal protection equipment, or PPE, like surgical gowns and gloves. Since nitrile gloves are hypoallergenic and capable of resisting chemicals, hospitals prefer them for their medical staff. At the moment, these gloves are tough to get and increasingly expensive.

According to reports, the national stockpile of them in the United States is just 72 million gloves compared to the target amount of 4.5 billion. The shortage is causing states to make their way through an intense medical equipment market filled with shady middlemen and black-market dealers. Fraud is occurring at a rapid pace and the cost of gloves is skyrocketing.

Estimates show that one box of gloves costs around $32. This is a massive increase from what medical facilities were paying before the pandemic arrived. The demand has minted a few more billionaires and centimillionaires.

Market analysts are confirming that the global demand for nitrile gloves has almost doubled in just a few months. In 2019, the demand was an estimated 300 billion while in August of 2020, the demand grew to almost 585 billion.

Glove manufacturers can only develop about 370 billion gloves each year. After determining the enhanced need for gloves, companies have been working to increase production. The production increase will allow companies to make around 50 billion more of them, but this still leaves the medical community short. Also, while the United States appears to be getting the virus under control, it is raging in countries like India.

Even after the pandemic subsides around the world, manufacturers believe that the demand for nitrile gloves will increase. The reason for this is that now people know about their protective properties.

Protective Equipment that the Healthcare Industry Needs

SPH Medical works with manufacturers to provide Nitrile Examination Gloves to hospitals and healthcare facilities around the world. We want to keep healthcare workers everywhere comfortable and safe.

Sources:

  1. https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/the-nurse-who-introduced-gloves-to-the-operating-room
  2. https://www.hsimagazine.com/article/the-development-of-nitrile-gloves-144/
  3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2021/02/11/billionaires-making-boatloads-of-money-from-once-cheap-medical-gloves/?sh=110d3cec661c
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