The use of gloves is recommended for two fundamental reasons:
1. To reduce the risk of contamination of healthcare workers’ hands with blood and other body fluids.
2. To reduce the risk of micro-organisms spreading in the environment and transmission from healthcare professional to patient and vice versa, as well as from one patient to another.
Gloves should therefore be worn during all patient care activities that may involve exposure to blood and other body fluids (including contact with mucous membranes and non-intact skin), during contact precautions and outbreak situations
The effectiveness of gloves in preventing contamination of the hands of health professionals and in helping to reduce the transmission of microorganisms in health care has been confirmed in several clinical studies. However, healthcare professionals should be aware that gloves do not provide complete protection against hand contamination.
Microorganisms can contaminate healthcare workers’ hands through small defects (holes) in gloves or during glove removal. Hand hygiene, whether through rubbing with an alcohol-based hand rub or hand hygiene with soap and water, remains the basis for ensuring hand decontamination after glove removal.
Key learning point: Gloves do not provide complete protection against hand contamination
The impact of glove use on adherence to hand hygiene policies has not been definitively established, as published studies have shown conflicting results. However, the recommendation to wear gloves throughout the care of a patient in contact precautions, without considering the indications for their removal, such as, for example, hand hygiene, can actually lead to the transmission of microorganisms.
The use of gloves and the need for hand hygiene:
• When an indication for hand hygiene precedes contact that also requires the use of gloves, rub your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash your hands with soap and water before putting on gloves.
• When an indication for hand hygiene follows a contact that required gloves, rub hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves.
• When an indication for hand hygiene applies while the healthcare worker is wearing gloves, the gloves should then be removed to rub hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash hands with soap and water.
Improper use of gloves:
• When not indicated, the use of gloves represents a waste of resources and does not contribute to reducing the cross-transmission of microorganisms.
• It can also result in missed opportunities for hand hygiene.
• The use of gloves contaminated by incorrect storage and inappropriate donning and doffing times and techniques may result in the transmission of microorganisms.
Summary of recommendations on the use of gloves:
• The use of gloves does not modify the indications for hand hygiene, that is, it does not replace the action of hand hygiene rubbing the hands with an alcoholic preparation or washing the hands with water and liquid soap.
• Wear gloves when contact with blood or other body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or potentially infectious materials can be anticipated.
• Remove gloves after caring for a patient. Do not use the same pair of gloves for more than one patient.
• When wearing gloves, change or remove gloves during patient care when moving from one contaminated anatomical site to another (including membrane, mucosa, non-intact skin, or a medical device in the same patient or environment).
• Reuse of gloves after reprocessing or decontamination is not recommended.
The effectiveness of gloves in preventing contamination of the hands of health professionals and in helping to reduce the transmission of microorganisms in health care has been confirmed in several clinical studies.
Source: ANVISA.
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