Endotoxins in the manufacturing environments of natural rubber (NR) latex gloves

Measurements of endotoxin and microbial contamination during glove manufacture were made at two commercial plants and from the rries gloveline. samples were taken from solutions and air along the processing tank line,and from the stripping and packaging areas. at all three plants,high airborne endotoxin concentrations were encountered in the stripping areas and in the packing rooms,relative to the concentration range along the processing tank line. endotoxin was also detected from surfaces at the stripping areas and in the packing rooms. the most likely cause for the final endotoxin concentrations on the formed gloves is the higher level of airborne endotoxins during stripping and packing activities. the population densities of airborne microbes were also high in the stripping area. a variety of bacteria were recorded,with a predominance of gram-negative types. reducing the likelihood of bacterial contamination reduces both microorganisms and pyrogens and it is vital to place greater focus on reducing microbial contaminants at these critical areas of surgical glove production.