The use of disposable gloves is standard practice in settings like kitchens, hospitals, and laboratories for maintaining hygiene and preventing contamination. While gloves create a physical barrier between the wearer’s hands and hazardous materials, they are not a substitute for fundamental hand hygiene. For safety and compliance, hands must be washed between changing gloves, regardless of the setting or task. This procedural requirement is mandated by public health guidelines and regulatory bodies.
Why Handwashing is Necessary Even After Glove Use
Gloves, even when intact, are not a perfect barrier against microbial transfer, leading to a false sense of security for many wearers. Materials like nitrile or latex can develop microscopic tears or punctures during use that are too small to be seen. These breaches allow bacteria, viruses, and contaminants to seep through and soil the skin underneath the glove. Regulatory bodies mandate hand hygiene specifically to address this potential microbial leakage.
Contamination also occurs during the physical act of removing soiled gloves. If the exterior surface of a used glove brushes against the bare wrist or skin, it instantly transfers pathogens. Furthermore, the skin under the glove can also become moist and warm from perspiration, creating an environment where microorganisms can multiply. Thorough handwashing is the only way to remove microorganisms that have either leaked through or transferred during the removal process.
Specific Rules for Food Service and Preparation
In food service environments, the primary goal of hand hygiene is to prevent the transfer of pathogens that cause foodborne illness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code provides specific rules for glove use, serving as the model for most state and local regulations. These guidelines require food employees to wash their hands before putting on gloves, especially when starting a new task.
Gloves must be changed immediately if they become torn or soiled. They must also be changed after handling raw products like meat, poultry, or seafood, and before touching ready-to-eat foods, which prevents cross-contamination. The FDA Food Code also mandates that single-use gloves be changed at least every four hours during continuous use, as barrier integrity diminishes over time.
A simple glove change is not sufficient when switching from a contaminated task to a clean one, or after interruptions like touching a phone or handling money. In these instances, the hands must be washed, and new gloves must be donned. This full hand hygiene procedure is necessary because of the risk of transferring unseen contaminants to ready-to-eat items.
Guidelines for Healthcare and Clinical Settings
In clinical and healthcare environments, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focus on preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Hand hygiene is considered the most important measure for preventing the spread of pathogens between patients, staff, and the environment. Therefore, hand hygiene is required at specific moments, often called “Hand Hygiene Opportunities.”
These opportunities include moments before and after patient contact, after contact with body fluids, and after contact with the patient’s immediate surroundings. Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after the removal of gloves. This procedure is mandatory because gloves can become compromised, and the act of removal often leads to hand contamination.
In the absence of visible soiling, an alcohol-based hand rub (containing 60-95% alcohol) can be used as an alternative to soap and water for rapid decontamination. However, if the skin has contacted blood or body fluids through a visible tear or puncture, washing with soap and water is necessary. Healthcare workers must never wear the same pair of gloves for the care of more than one patient.
Correct Procedure for Glove Removal and Washing
The process of removing gloves and washing hands must be performed carefully to avoid spreading contaminants to clean surfaces or skin. To remove the first glove, grasp the outside edge near the cuff with the opposite gloved hand, taking care not to touch the skin. The glove is then peeled away, turning it inside-out, and held in the palm of the still-gloved hand.
Next, slide two fingers of the ungloved hand underneath the wrist of the remaining glove, touching only the clean inner surface. Peel the second glove off, turning it inside-out, which effectively tucks the first glove inside the second. The resulting bundle of gloves should be immediately disposed of, and the hands should never be left unwashed.
Handwashing must follow immediately, using soap and running water for a minimum of 20 seconds. This duration allows enough time for the friction of rubbing hands together to lift and remove transient microorganisms from all surfaces, including between the fingers and under the nails. After rinsing thoroughly, hands should be dried completely with a clean towel or air dryer, as wet hands can more easily re-acquire and transfer germs.