Problematic Hand Sanitation Can Lead to Healthcare-Acquired Infection

Gloved Hands Can Be Lethal

HCWs wear exam gloves to protect themselves from infectious pathogens in the environment and from germs residing on the patient.¹¹ Given the high levels of environmental contamination throughout hospitals, they are highly motivated to don gloves all the time. Glove use is on the rise due to increased fears by nurses of acquiring deadly infections. All glove manufacturers, first and foremost, promote the enhanced barrier protection capabilities of their products.¹² However, wearing gloves does not necessarily protect the patient. As demonstrated earlier, it may do just the opposite — it may place them at further risk. Exam gloves can carry pathogens on their surfaces just as readily as skin stores transient pathogens on its surface. Gloved hands transfer pathogens to the patient as easily as compromised bare hands.¹³

Exam glove contamination from the patient room environment has been demonstrated in multiple technical papers.¹⁴ In one study, UVB light illuminates a pair of gloved hands revealing MRSA which has contaminated the exam gloves prior to initial patient care.¹⁵ These compromised gloves could potentially transmit harmful pathogens to the unsuspecting patient, who unfortunately becomes just another HAI statistic, and even back onto the HCW — posing risk to the next patient as well as themselves.