Hand Hygiene and Infection Control: Skin Care Supports Patient Care

Moisturizing products should be assessed for compatibility with natural rubber latex gloves, for compatibility with any topical antimicrobial products being used and for physiological effects on the skin.

Gloving and Skin Wellness

Medical gloves are the most frequently worn item in healthcare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommends the use of gloves, gowns, and handwashing to prevent person-to-person transmission of VRE.⁷

Wearing gloves may lower hand hygiene compliance since some clinicians believe that it makes handwashing unnecessary. Handwashing is recommended after glove removal because of the potential for contamination to occur during glove removal or from glove leaks.

The Impact of Dermatitis on Clinical Practice and Employee Safety

The CDC’s “Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings” addresses issues that can result in a higher incidence of HAIs among patients such as skin dermatitis and its role in the spread of these infections.⁸