sensitivity (cataract surgery,
for example), you may wear a
single pair of gloves. On these
occasions, use an abundance
of caution and weigh the risk
of sensitivity versus the risk
of percutaneous injury associ-
ated with wearing only a sin-
gle pair of gloves. I started
out my career in the days
before gloves were used as
personal protective equip-
ment. I remember picking up
bloody sponges with my bare
hands, and the first time I had
to start an IV with a pair of
gloves on. There was a learn-
ing curve, for sure, but the
body can learn to accommo-
date for the loss of tactile sen-
sitivity. Nurses are intuitive
and creative. For our safety
and our patients' safety, we
made up our minds to wear
gloves.
Science is on your
side
There's overwhelming evi-
dence that double gloving
offers layers of protection
against transmission of infec-
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G
loves should be changed when a
suspected or actual perforation
occurs or a visible defect is noted.
Surgical gloves develop microperforations
depending on the length of time the
gloves are worn. Perforations let bacteria
pass from the surgical site through the
glove. Sterile gloves should be changed:
• after each patient procedure;
• when a visible defect or perforation is
noted;
• when suspected or actual contamina-
tion occurs; and
• when a suspected or actual perfora-
tion occurs.
When to Change Gloves
