12/10/2007

Flu Season is Upon Us: Selecting and Wearing Gloves for Protection from Influenza

By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET

This is the third of several articles prepared by Safex to help funeral home employees prepare for the flu season which typically runs from October to May. There has been a lot of information in the media recently about the looming avian influenza pandemic that epidemiologists believe could evolve from the H5N1 virus. While funeral homes should be preparing for the pandemic, they should not forget about seasonal influenza which kills an estimated 36,000 people in the U.S. each year.

Influenza viruses can be transmitted by contaminated hands. For example, if a person who is infected by an influenza virus coughs or sneezes and deposits respiratory droplets on a surface(like a door handle), that surface becomes contaminated with the virus. If a co-worker touches the contaminated surface with their hand and then touches their eyes,mouth or nose mucous membranes, they can contract the virus. This is why hand washing, work area disinfection and the use of gloves is important during an influenza outbreak.

When to Wear Gloves
Gloves should be worn when an employee:
* Must touch someone else's body fluids (such as blood,respiratory secretions, vomit, urine or feces);
* Must touch surfaces that are likely to be contaminated with an influenza virus; and
* Is disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces in their work area.

What Type of Glove to Wear
For exposure to body fluids and contaminated surfaces, any type of non-sterile, fluid-resistant glove may be used. Typically, this will include disposable gloves made from latex, nitrile, or vinyl material. If an employee is disinfecting surfaces in their work area, they should wear the type of glove recommended by the manufacturer of the disinfectant. This information should be included on the product label or Material Safety Data Sheet.

Guidance for Correct Use of Gloves
Gloves protect your hands from contact with infectious materials. However, once contaminated, gloves can become a means for spreading infectious materials to yourself and to surfaces in your work area. Therefore,the following guidelines must be observed when wearing gloves:

* Wash your hands before putting on gloves.

* Make sure your gloves fit properly for you to wear them comfortably.

* Some people are allergic to the natural rubber latex used in some gloves. If you are allergic to natural rubber latex, you should choose gloves made from other synthetic materials (such as polyvinyl chloride(PVC), nitrile, or polyurethane).

* Be aware that sharp objects can puncture gloves.

* Always change your gloves if they rip or tear.

* Make a conscious effort not to touch your eyes, nose, mouth or any surfaces in your workplace if your gloves become contaminated.

* Remove your gloves by turning them inside out to
prevent the outside, contaminated surface of the glove from touching your skin.

* When disposing of your gloves, avoid contaminating the trash receptacle.

* After removing gloves, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub.

* Never reuse disposable gloves.

* If using reuseable gloves, follow the glove manufacturer's recommendations for disinfecting them, and do not exceed the life expectancy (breakthrough time) of the gloves.

If you have any questions about the information in this article or any other health, safety or environmental issue, please contact me at bgarrison@safex.us or by phone, toll-free, at 866-723-3987.