Disposable gloves, made from materials like latex, nitrile, or vinyl, provide a temporary barrier against contaminants and pathogens. Regulatory bodies classify these devices as single-use only; they must be discarded immediately after completing a task or if their integrity is compromised. Reusing them violates the principle of barrier protection and significantly increases contamination risk. This strict mandate is rooted in the materials’ limitations and the need to maintain hygiene standards.
The Mandate of Single Use
The primary reason disposable gloves cannot be worn multiple times is the non-durable nature of their materials, which are engineered for immediate, short-term use. These thin polymer films are susceptible to rapid degradation upon exposure to various substances. Contact with oils, solvents, cleaning chemicals, or physical stress can quickly compromise the glove’s function.
Material Degradation
This degradation often results in invisible damage like micro-tears or pinholes. Studies show that micro-failures are present even in seemingly intact gloves, particularly vinyl, where plasticizers can break down and create small, permeable channels. Once compromised by these microscopic defects, the glove can no longer reliably prevent the transfer of substances or microorganisms.
Types of Gloves
Both examination and surgical gloves are designed for single use, but they differ in focus. Surgical gloves meet stricter standards for sterility and puncture resistance for use in invasive procedures. Examination gloves, used for routine tasks, are thinner and more prone to mechanical failure. The single-use mandate is necessary to ensure an effective barrier is maintained.
Understanding Cross-Contamination Risk
Violating the single-use rule creates a risk of cross-contamination, which is the unintentional transfer of biological agents or chemical residues. The surface of a used glove retains bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens encountered during a task. Even if the glove appears visually clean, it may harbor a significant microbial load.
Biological Transfer
A common example occurs in food handling when the same gloves touch raw meat and then ready-to-eat produce. This action transfers dangerous bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, a primary pathway for foodborne illness. In healthcare, wearing the same gloves between different patients or tasks facilitates the spread of infections.
Chemical Transfer
Chemical residue transfer is another concern when reusing gloves. If a glove handles a harsh cleaning agent in one area and is then reused elsewhere, the chemical residue can be inadvertently spread. This transfer defeats the purpose of the personal protective equipment, turning the glove from a barrier into a vector for contamination.
Safe Removal and Disposal Techniques
Because the exterior of a used glove is considered contaminated, the process of removal must be performed carefully to prevent self-contamination of the hands. The recommended method, often called the “glove-in-glove” technique, ensures that the contaminated outer surfaces never touch the wearer’s bare skin.
The Glove-in-Glove Technique
To begin, one glove is pinched at the wrist and peeled away, turning it inside out as it is removed. This first glove is then held completely contained in the palm of the remaining gloved hand. The fingers of the now ungloved hand are slid under the cuff of the second glove, taking care to touch only the clean interior surface.
The second glove is then peeled off over the first, creating a compact bundle where all contaminated surfaces are enclosed inside the inverted material. This secure package must be immediately disposed of in the appropriate receptacle, which may be standard trash or a designated biohazard container. The final step is immediate hand washing with soap and water to remove any residual contamination.