Gamma Radiation Dose Optimization for Surgical Gloves

Sterilization leads to the complete reduction of the pathogenic microorganisms from the surface of surgical gloves after they are manufactured. It is seen that many health hazardous microbes are present on the unsterilized gloves that leads urinary tract infections, skin infections, respiratory infections and food poisoning. These microbes includes gram positive Bacillus species mostly Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis and gram negative Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli etc. Sterilization of gloves was done with the help of boiling, autoclaving, dry heat and ethylene oxide but these were not much effective than that of sterilization with gamma radiation Co60. The aim of this work was the detection and the removal of microbial load from the surface of gloves that may cause hazardous effects to the human health. The gloves from 5 manufacturing companies were collected after the survey in order to test and detect the microbial load present on the gloves. After the microbial detection, the new samples of gloves were sent to PARAS for gamma radiation dose optimization. The gloves were treated at the 25, 30 and 35kGy.On 35kGy no load.