Healthcare workers are at risk of receiving percutaneous exposures to bloodborne pathogens, such as hepatitis (HBV & HCV) and HIV – especially in the operating room. Glove puncture during surgery can occur often. Orthopaedic surgery has the highest incidence of perforation, closely followed by gastrointestinal surgery. Most punctures occur without the wearer’s knowledge. In many cases a breached glove barrier is not noticed until gloves are removed and blood is seen on the hand. Studies recommend that surgeons should change their gloves at least once an hour to avoid contamination with patient fluids.

Combined with frequent glove changes, double gloving (wearing two pairs of gloves) is probably one of the most effective methods to reduce exposure to blood-borne pathogens, as it reduces by a factor of 10 the number of potential exposures. Double gloving significantly reduces the perforation rate of the inner glove by at least 70% compared to single gloving.

Gammex PF® Underglove’s inner coating integrates Ansell’s exclusive HydraSoft® technology. It actively retains moisture and rehydrates your skin, defending against the negative effects of continual glove-wearing and frequent contact with severe anti-bacterials. HydraSoft helps keep your skin moist, supple and fulfilling its natural barrier function. The odourless innercoating made with HydraSoft technology contains a skin-friendly humectant moisturiser that attracts and retains water in the stratum corneum.And dimethicone forms a protective barrier to prevent skin from drying out.

Users benefit from reduced risk of latex sensitisation thanks to the Protein and Endogenous Allergen Reduction Leaching (PEARL) technology. Moreover, contact dermatitis is lessened because the accelerator is completely consumed during the manufacturing process.

The Gammex PF® Underglove provides a high-strength barrier to infection with great tear resistance. This gives you an effective shield against viral penetration. And a tough inner coating withstands alcohol-based disinfectants.

Both damp-donning and quick changing during operations are easily accomplished thanks to the glove’s polyurethane lining integrating HydraSoft® technology.

The Gammex® PF Underglove minimises hand fatigue due to the use of special formers during the manufacturing process. And its unique design – with an adhesive band at the top of a straight cuff – relieves pressure on the forearm while operating.

Extensive customer testing has been performed with 60 surgeons and nurses in hospitals in the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland. The result: 78% evaluated the Gammex® PF Underglove combined with the Gammex® PF as equal to or better than their current double gloving system.