The use of protective gloves, the incidence of ampoule injury and the prevalence of hand laceration amongst anaesthetic personnel.

In a study of 97 anaesthetic sessions, the incidence of hand laceration secondary to opening glass ampoules was 6% and the prevalence of visible old hand laceration 26%. The wearing of gloves for procedures likely to cause contamination by human secretions ranged from 35-86%. Overall there was no statistically significant difference in glove wearing habits of trainees and consultants. In the presence of a visible laceration, glove wearing by trainees increased and was significantly higher than that practiced by consultants. There were at least 90 procedures performed in 97 sessions during which an anaesthetist risked contaminating a visible laceration. It appears that the occupational risk of contracting a blood-borne viral infection is still unnecessarily increased by anaesthetists not wearing protective gloves for all procedures in which contamination may occur.