In the last month, the price of medical-grade exam gloves has increased, and some suppliers are implementing caps on how many boxes can be bought per week—signaling supply disruptions. In this episode of In the Sterilization Room with Jackie, infection prevention expert Jackie Dorst, RDH, BS, talks about the shortage, as well as the FDA and CDC guidance on glove usage and conservation. In addition, she provides advice on how the orthodontic practice should manage if they run short on gloves—from the other types of gloves that can be used for non-patient-focused activities to how to prioritize the patient schedule to conserve gloves.
At the end of this episode, Jackie speaks to the recent winners of the inaugural Sparkle & Shine Scholarship. The scholarship, sponsored by Jackie, covers the attendance of orthodontic team members to the upcoming OSAP Virtual Boot Camp and aims to increase the number of infection preventionists in the orthodontic field. OP
LINKS
FDA Medical Glove Conservation Strategies: Letter to Health Care Providers
CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Disposable Medical Gloves
CDC Summary for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE during Shortages
