Influence of the sterilization method and of magnesium oxide on the tissue responses in the rat to modified starch glove powders.

The tissue response to samples of a surgical glove powder was assessed from counts of the adhesions and granulomas found 7 and 14 days after introduction into the peritoneal cavity of rats, and by a histological study of affected tissues. Negative control groups treated with no powder and positive controls treated with talc were included. Various sample treatments were implemented to examine the effect of the sterilization method on the tissue response and the influence of magnesium oxide, normally added as a dispersing agent. The glove powder produced less reaction when steam-sterilized than when gamma-irradiated and the presence of magnesium oxide at 2% concentration made no detectable difference.