HIDA
Frustrated By Glove Shortages? Talk with your distributor about alternatives and conservation strategies
First, ask your distributor to identify alternatives. Distributors are working every day to find safe, obtainable substitute products to fill demand. Importantly, manufacturers are dedicating more production lines to latex gloves, the raw materials for which are easier to obtain. While many providers favor nitrile gloves as they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction, innovations in latex-based glove production during the last 15 years have led to much-improved gloves. Your distributor can help you find the best substitutes. Second, adopt conscientious conservation strategies, as recommended by the CDC. Recognize that non-sterile gloves can To anyone involved in the medical products supply chain, the news report
be used for handling hazardous substances
late last year that a truckload of 6 million medical gloves had been stolen in Florida
like blood and body fluids. While some
came as no surprise. Gloves – in particular nitrile gloves – are in short supply and what
manufacturers provide expiration dates for
used to be considered a low-cost commodity is now viewed as one of the most valuable
non-sterile gloves, this is not required by the
types of personal protection equipment (PPE).
FDA and the gloves are safe for use beyond their expiration date. Gloves can also be used more than once if alcohol-based
Healthcare providers who are expe-
While glove manufacturers are work-
hand sanitizer or a thorough wash with
riencing glove shortages are not alone.
ing to increase capacity, it can take up
soap and water is used to sanitize them
In October, 40% of hospital customers
to a year to build a new production line
before moving to the next patient.
surveyed by Premier said they were expe-
capable of producing 10 billion nitrile
riencing glove shortages.
gloves annually. Even with added capacity,
remain so well into 2021. As the shortage
the tremendous increase in glove demand
persists, the internet has been flooded
have skyrocketed due to rapidly rising
has created a shortage of nitrile buta-
with unscruplous brokers and inexperi-
global demand and the duration of the
diene rubber, the raw material used in
enced novice operators who claim they
COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately,
nitrile gloves. The lead time for building
can fill the gap. But remember, everyone
glove shortages are likely to continue
processing plants to turn nitrile butadiene
is competing in the same global market
well into 2021. It is estimated that global
rubber into usable material is an even
from the same manufacturers who are
demand for gloves will top 585 billion
longer 18 months.
experiencing the same raw material short-
As with all PPE, orders for gloves
units in 2021, yet the total manufacturing
In light of these challenges, what
Supplies are tight – and are likely to
ages. Rely on the distributor you trust
capacity of glovemakers is only 370 bil-
should healthcare providers facing nitrile
to get the medical-grade equipment you
lion units, a 37% shortfall.
glove shortages do?
need from legitimate sources.
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February 2021 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
