Hospital introduced and now ends latex glove use

AORN Journal, April, 2008

In an effort to make medical care safer for patients and hearth care workers, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, is the first major medical institution to end all use of latex groves and most medical latex products, according to a January 14, 2008, news release from Johns Hopkins Medicine. In 1894, the hospital's surgeon in chief developed and introduced the first rubber surgical gloves in the United States. The latex grove was developed to protect scrub nurses' hands from harsh antiseptics. By 1966, use of disposable latex groves was the norm in ORs nationwide. In the 1980s, the use of "universal precautions" increased latex glove use outside the OR and among other hearth care workers.

Johns Hopkins immunologists conducted early research related to natural rubber latex as an allergen. Studies have shown that roughly 6% of the general population and up to 15% of health care workers are allergic to latex. By the mid-1990s, latex allergies were considered to be a major health issue.

Johns Hopkins now uses sterile neoprene and polyisoprene gloves in the OR and mostly neoprene groves for all nonsterile procedures. The preferred term at the hospital is latex safe versus latex free because removing all sources of natural rubber remains a challenge. Latex Task Force members at Johns Hopkins can now safety say that art major latex products posing a clear risk to hearth care workers and patients have been eliminated. Task force members continue to search, however, for the few remaining nonsafe medical latex products that may have been overlooked.

Rubber gloves: "born"--and now banished--at Johns Hopkins [news release]. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Medicine; January 14, 2008.