Everyday Practices That May Affect Glove Barrier

Glove Specific (continued):
Donning Techniques. Poor donning techniques can result in glove rips and tears. Healthcare personnel should take care to don gloves correctly and avoid excessive stretching. Thoroughly dry hands before sliding them into gloves.
Double Gloving. Double gloving has been documented to significantly reduce the penetration of contaminated sharps through to the skin surface and should be considered when the risk of exposure to highly pathogenic organisms is present or as dictated by facility policies.

Length of Glove Wear. The longer a glove is worn the more vulnerable it is to barrier compromise.The rate of fatigue can be compounded by many factors that include, but are not limited to, rigorous manipulations, contact with various chemicals and quality of the film glove layer in areas that are difficult to coat (e.g., the saddle between the fingers). During extended surgeries, the practice of changing to a new pair of gloves prior to a critical procedure has been noted to reduce bacterial contamination.

Glove Removal. Infectious organisms may contaminate the exterior surface of gloves during use. It is important to follow proper glove removal techniques. The gloves should then be dropped, not tossed, into the appropriate disposal container. A perfect barrier is meaningless if the contamination on the outside of the glove is spread throughout the environment as a result of poor removal technique.

Storage Conditions. Heat, light, moisture and ozone can all degrade glove materials. Various types of electrical equipment such as generators, ultraviolet or fluorescent light and X-ray machines create ozone.To avoid material degradation due to these factors, gloves should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct light and electrical generating equipment.

Other:
Dermatitis. If the glove barrier is breached, the wearer must depend on the integrity of the skin to prevent infectious substances from gaining passage into the body. Cases of transferring infectious
rganisms from or to the hands have occurred. For example, occupationally acquired HIV has been traced to the contact of soiled materials on chapped hands. 39 The transfer of Herpes Simplex (Herpetic Whitlow) and Staphylococcus (MRSA) from the patient to the hands of the healthcare worker has been documented. 7,40
Many cases of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) from healthcare providers to patients have been reported. 7 Similar transfers of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) are now being reported. 41 Also, dermatitis is painful and may
prevent adequate hand scrubbing thus leaving residual organisms on the hand.

Healthy Skin. Healthy intact skin is an essential factor in reducing the risk of cross-contamination. Choose gloves with low potential for causing irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. Similarly, avoid direct contact with surface disinfectants, sterilants or other strong chemicals with unprotected hands. Select mild soaps and lotions that are less likely to cause dermatitis.

Handwashing. There is no substitute for handwashing. It should be an absolute habit for healthcare providers. Suggestions to minimize dermatitis sometimes associated with handwashing include the use of mild soaps and tepid (not hot) water, the addition of water to your hands before applying soap, thorough rinsing, jewelry removal and complete drying.