(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Today we will be focusing on how medical gloves were developed. It is impossible to imagine a medical procedure or examination where medical workers do not wear gloves. This is a prominent characteristic of medical attire, with a mask and a lab coat. But, there are always pioneers who have considered this strategy for postoperative infection reduction. It was interesting to note that both science and a bit of romance were involved.

Now let’s go to the nineties of the nineteenth century. Baltimore. William Halsted, J. Hopkins Hospital’s famed surgeon, is seen in the operating room.

Dr. Halsted was a fascinating individual. Dr. Halstead was a pioneer in local anesthesia, the inventor of many cancer treatment procedures, and, oddly, a cocaine addict. The dangers of cocaine were not known until the mid-1880s. It was used widely to improve cognition and energy. Halsted was attracted to cocaine for two reasons. He wanted it as a stimulant and as a local anesthetic. After all, work was his priority. He was unaware of the dangers, but he succumbed to the addiction and spent many years in rehab treatment. His assistants became addicted too when he was preaching the substance’s miraculous virtues to them. The addiction damaged his reputation. The doctor recovered all his reputation due to his fantastic surgical abilities, but the hospital administration had to conceal the morphine addiction with which he replaced cocaine addiction.

What does all this have to do with gloves?

Halsted was introduced to Joseph Lister’s latest ideas about antiseptics in the 1870s. He became a passionate advocate for operating room hygiene. Handwashing with mercury chloride and carbolic acid was the only method of disinfection during this time. Although the product did a great job of cleansing, it was too harsh for the skin. Caroline Hampton, who was to become his wife, was at that time working alongside Halsted. Her skin grew dermatitis from frequent disinfection. The nurse was an intelligent woman who was an outstanding professional. She helped Halsted with his addictions and work, and he could not overlook her skin problems. He listened carefully to Caroline’s comments and ordered two pairs of rubber gloves made by Goodyear Rubber in New York. Halsted did not give much meaning to this incident. After using gloves, she was able to return to her job. Gloves proved to be so comfortable that many other medical assistants started to use them. These gloves were sought after and used for complex surgical procedures and in any contact with patients.

Because Halsted didn’t place a high value on gloves, they did not immediately gain popularity. This was true until 1899, when Joseph Bloodwood, his pupil, published operational statistics. None of the 450 hernia operations performed using gloves had after-surgery infections. While a couple of years before, the infection rate was pretty high.

The creation of synthetic latex was the subsequent significant development in the evolution of medical gloves. Nowadays, medical gloves manufacturers are trying to develop more exquisite materials that are more durable and have a better fit on a hand. You can visit Medrux gloves official website to see how sophisticated medical gloves have become. Everything from microtextures on the tip of fingers for better grip to eco-friendly material usage.