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Surgical glove powder can cause the following adverse health effects: Increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) Glove powder can trigger reduced resistance to infection, bacterial environmental contamination, foreign body reaction, delayed wound healing, adhesion formation and granuloma formation 1 2. All of these potential consequences can increase the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) 3. Latex allergy and occupational asthma Powdered latex gloves have been implicated as the largest single contributor to the latex aeroallergen levels in a healthcare facility 4  5. Latex proteins can be aerosolized by attaching to glove powder. This not only increases the risk of acquiring a latex allergy, but can also increase the risk of acquiring occupational asthma 6 . Glove powder increases latex allergy sensitization, potentially eliciting delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Powdered surgical gloves show higher levels of natural rubber latex allergens than gloves that are powder-free. This allows for the potential increase in latex sensitization and/or Type I reactions upon direct and indirect contact 7  8  9  10  11 Biogel surgical gloves: powder-free since 1984 Every single Biogel® surgical glove is powder-free, and has been for over 40 years. Biogel sold the world's first powder-free surgical glove in 1984, and over 40 years later, Biogel is still the only major surgical glove brand with an exclusively powder-free range.

As time management in healthcare, particularly in the surgical field, becomes more important, hospitals are actively looking for more efficiency from fewer resources. One hospital in France achieved significant improvements to operating room efficiency, according to a Mölnlycke ProcedurePak efficiency study. By implementing surgical procedure trays, European hospitals achieved 40-55% time savings in the operating room, making it possible to carry out more surgical procedures – around 37% more procedures in one hospital in France. [Video section] France Cathérine Laurent, OR nurse, Hôpital Privé des Peupliers, Groupe Générale de Santé, Paris, France Exploring how to improve operating room efficiency Hospitals in Europe are traditionally supplied with single-packed sterile products for surgical procedures. For each procedure, the nurses in the operating room need to source surgical instruments in the operating room and collect required materials from the storeroom unit by unit and set it all up for each procedure. Other necessary steps to get the right material in place include stock-taking and ordering, as well as warehousing and transportation. Hospital management today is striving for the most efficient treatment procedures without compromising on quality or safety. Thus there is increasing pressure to handle more interventions while relying on unchanged resources1, 2. Optimising internal processes to improve efficiency has become more and more important, and more effective operating room inventory management, down to the procedure level, has been identified as a way to achieve greater efficiency in the operating room. Study aim: Quantifying time savings from procedure trays The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of and quantify time savings when implementing ProcedurePak trays. Method This was an open prospective study performed as case studies in different hospitals located in Germany, France and Sweden. A total of 26 different ProcedurePak trays were used. For each of the hospitals the single-use material process was studied, from ordering of materials to disposal. This process typically consists of 6 main processes: internal order and delivery, receiving of goods in the surgical department, preparation and clean-up of surgery, external order, receiving of goods via the purchasing department and invoicing. The steps can be broken down into sub-processes and activities. For example, the main process – preparation and clean-up – can be broken down into 14 sub-processes or 33 activities. Each step in the process was described and measured both before and after implementation of the Mölnlycke ProcedurePak trays. For every step of the process, the time and cost drivers were identified by studying practical use and measuring time. Total annual time-saving after implementation of ProcedurePak trays in Germany. Results: Across hospitals, 40-59% time savings achieved The results of the study show that following the introduction of ProcedurePak trays, time-savings in the single-use material process were between 40% and 59% in the hospitals studied.   The magnitude of the time-savings depends on several factors, including the number of different ProcedurePak trays used, number of components in each tray and the number of procedures performed with trays. The largest time savings were found in the preparation and clean-up of surgery, which is a key metric for operating room waste management initiatives. But time savings were also shown in other process steps.  The time savings were used in different ways depending on individual objectives of the hospital, for example: Performance of additional surgical procedures, giving patients more timely treatment and maximising use of OR resources In the French hospital 37% more surgical procedures were performed following implementation. In the German hospital the number of interventions increased by 18% per year. Training of staff. Conclusions The case studies show that significant time-savings (40-59%) can be gained through implementing Mölnlycke customised procedure trays for surgical procedures in the operating room. The freed-up time makes it possible to perform additional surgical procedures. The financial effect of this is an area for further research. [Download] France case

Speciality drapes for surgery not only offer the infection control measures required in an operating room with their single-use nature but also meet the specific needs of particular surgical interventions. And with consideration for OR efficiency, surgical drape packs can add greater efficiency and time savings.  Speciality surgical drapes for OR safety and efficiency Mölnlycke offer a comprehensive range of speciality drapes. The operating room is home to all different types of drapes, including universal sets, but intervention-specific all-in-one drapes have relevant features integrated in the drape for easy and efficient draping. Integrated pouches and tube holders to create an organised working field. Speciality drapes designed specifically for a given procedure, such as a knee operation or orthopaedic operation, offer coverage and protection where it is most needed, thereby reducing the risk of contamination. With fewer parts to handle, fewer steps to take and a shorter, more efficient set-up time, the patient is draped and ready for the procedure to begin faster.  This contributes to OR safety and efficiency by: Making setup faster and more efficient, cutting down on prep and overall time in OR Single-use or disposable surgical drapes support aseptic practice Enabling more procedure-specific patient safety and ease of use for OR personnel Speciality drapes are designed to be optimally folded – the folding allows for aseptic application, easy for one person to drape. Allow for easy and efficient draping by one person For saving time – 3 times faster than draping with a universal drape solution¹  Fewer parts, fewer steps – for reducing the risk of contamination² 

The last thing on your surgical team’s mind when hard at work in the OR is probably how much waste you are generating from single-use surgical instruments and drapes, or how much more efficiency you could gain from customised procedure-specific surgical trays. But as sustainability becomes a watchword for every industry, the single-use nature of antiseptic surgical environments is also coming under scrutiny.  While patient safety leads as the most important consideration, hospitals continue to be beset by resource limitations balanced against new regulations that demand that they begin to operate more sustainably. Add to this equation the difficult-to-calculate environmental aspects of the operating room: from the CO2 expended in sourcing and producing the materials used in the production of OR goods to calculating the logistics of getting surgical trays and drapes and other surgical equipment into the hospital and properly distributed.  But what if you could make your impact less opaque and gain clarity on exactly what impact the CO2 from your surgical business generates? Sustainable innovation Mölnlycke continuously innovates to offer the most sustainable solutions without compromising on the safety and quality of its products. By applying lifecycle thinking to existing products, the company proactively steers its product portfolios towards improved sustainability outcomes. An example includes a number of ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) accredited sets of universal drapes offered by Mölnlycke. One of the three layers that make up the drapes is made of ISCC-certified renewable, biobased raw materials. As a result, an externally reviewed Life Cycle Assessment¹ showed these drapes to generate on average 20% less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional products. Guiding the conversion to sustainability Creating products that fulfil sustainability goals is one dimension of the issue. Another is ensuring that customers are aware of their existence and know the difference, providing clear guidance on a path toward conversion to more sustainable solutions. One such solution is a digital CO2 measurement tool that calculates the environmental benefits of choosing an ISCC drape over our standard product. Mölnlycke currently offers approximately 20 ISCC-certified drapes, consisting of up to 30% biobased material and a range of ISCC-certified surgical gowns. Demand for products using renewable, bio-based raw materials is particularly high in Scandinavia, the UK and Benelux, and is increasing in other markets as well. The calculator’s model includes the product’s entire life cycle, including Scope 1, 2 and 3.

Improving surgical gloving practice is about embracing a culture of safety and leading the OR team to the most effective hand protection.1 Communication is critical Preventive measures to reduce the risk of SSI, such as clean theatres, laminar air flow, good draping and skin prep, and so on, are protocol driven but rely very much on open communication policies in the OR and the surgeon setting that tone for the entire team. [Text & Image section] Nathal   Communication into practice Ensuring safe OR practice also demands that gloves are donned properly, including double gloving and using a correct donning technique. The senior surgeon is responsible for staff, and should set the standard of practice for everyone in the OR. Reality: Glove barrier breaches Glove barrier breaches happen in the OR whether the injured party realises it or not. Sometimes only when removing surgical gloves does the wearer find that the gloves have been compromised. Double gloving helps protect the sterile inner glove – and hand – from bacterial contamination and keeps patient and OR staff safer, especially when an indicator glove system shows when the outer glove is breached.1 Reality: Tackling tactile sensitivity The surgical glove can affect the tactile sensitivity required, and, for Mr Coombs double gloving with high-quality surgical gloves in breast cancer surgery meant his tactile sensitivity was not affected compared to when single gloving when gripping and working with breast tissue. For surgeons, their hands are everything. Double gloving offers an efficient, cost-effective way to add that extra layer of protection during surgical interventions.2, 3 Contact us to find out more  Visit Clinical Learning Hub

[video section] case berlin Dr Maurice Mommaerts, Maxillofacial Surgeon AZ Sint-Jan Bruges-Ostend hospital It has increased its number of interventions by 10% each year. The staff save time. They also comment on a more pleasant work environment and better patient care. AZ Sint-Jan Bruges-Ostend Av Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr Maurice Mommaerts said: ‘Mölnlycke Procedure trays contribute to a pleasant work environment, less stress and better use of time – in one word, efficiency.’ Director General Dr Hans Rigauts said: ‘Both nurses and doctors who use Mölnlycke Procedure Trays are clearly satisfied with them.’ [Download] case

[Video section] Finland case Tarmo Martikainen, CEO at Coxa Hospital, Finland Coxa increased the number of procedures performed by 17 percent and incorporated lean processes into its daily work. [download] reference

Different materials like natural rubber latex used in manufacturing of medical and surgical gloves have had unintended consequences – but should NRL be reconsidered? Materials like natural rubber latex (NRL) have been a lightning rod for their impact on individuals with latex allergies. But knowing what we know now about NRL, is it time for a re-appraisal? What does the future of glove manufacture look like, and can – and should – NRL make a comeback? [Text and image section] Haydn  

For healthcare companies to improve their environmental impact, one step would be understanding how single-use products such as surgical gloves, influence that environmental impact. [Text & Image block] Toby   Speaking the same language Whether it’s a lifecycle assessment (LCA) or disclosure standards, sustainability is only understandable and achievable if everyone within the value chain aligns on measuring and sharing data and metrics in the same way. Holistic system understanding Rather than dealing with isolated data points, it’s critical to understand an entire system. A holistic approach to improvement will consider production methods, renewability and recyclability of materials, the energy expended during production, the carbon footprint of transport, packaging, and product end of life. There’s a long sustainability journey ahead to accurately measure and understand the holistic environmental impact of healthcare delivery. Get in touch to find out more   Visit Clinical Learning Hub