FDA Proposes Ban on Powdered Medical Gloves

The ban would cover powered surgeon's gloves, powdered patient examination gloves and absorbable powder for lubricating surgeon gloves.

"We take bans very seriously and only take this action when we feel it's necessary to protect the public health", Shuren said.

"Federal health officials are moving to ban most surgical gloves made with powder, a feature created to make them easier to wear, but which actually poses health risks to patients and health professionals", according to a news report published by LubbockonLine.

These potentially serious side effects - which include severe airway inflammation, wound inflammation and post-surgical adhesions - have been attributed to the use of glove powder in all types of gloves. The ban would not apply to powdered radiographic protection gloves, non-powdered surgeon gloves, and non-powdered patient examination gloves.

Doctor Chow says powdered gloves are commonly used in surgery but are also used for everyday procedures. It stated that the powdered gloves lead to allergic reactions which could be risky.

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For only the second time in its history, FDA has proposed to remove a medical device from the market.

The proposed ban comes 18 years after the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen petitioned the agency to ban the devices - a delay they called "recklessly negligent". The agency, that time, said that the fibers used were not effective.

AffinHwang Capital observed that most Malaysian exports to United States are powder-free nitrile and latex gloves, adding that powdered gloves are mostly found in latex gloves that allow for a better fit.

"We gather that about 90 per cent glove exports to the U.S. have been gradually switched to powder-free nitrile or latex gloves as the FDA has long highlighted the health risks of powdered gloves". This is not the case, though, with synthetic (non-rubber) powdered gloves. In addition, given the critical role medical gloves play in protecting patients and health care providers, the FDA also conducted an economic analysis that showed a powdered glove ban would not cause a glove shortage and the economic impact of a ban would not be significant.

Newsweek reported on Monday that the FDA is finally taking a proactive approach and addressing citizen concerns regarding the use of powdered medical gloves, saying the FDA reviewed existing comments and concluded that powdered medical gloves, both latex and synthetic, are indeed detrimental for a number of reasons.