Exploring the benefits of double gloving during surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Safety
• Infection Control
• Medical Device Performance

Background:

• Glove integrity is crucial in preventing bloodborne pathogen transmission during surgery.
• Standard surgical protocols often involve single gloving, which carries inherent risks of barrier breaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of double gloving with inner indicator gloves on inner glove durability.
• To assess the effectiveness of double gloving in detecting glove tears and perforations during surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• A 24-month comparative study design was employed.
• The study compared single gloving, double gloving, and double gloving with an inner indicator system.
• Data collected included instances of blood on hands post-surgery and glove changes during procedures.

Main Results:

• Double gloving resulted in a lower frequency of blood on hands post-surgery compared to single gloving.
• The use of an indicator glove system led to a significantly higher rate of intraoperative glove changes.
• Healthcare providers reported positive perceptions regarding double gloving.

Conclusions:

• Double gloving enhances protection against bloodborne pathogens by reducing exposure.
• Indicator glove systems improve the detection of breaches and encourage timely glove replacement, bolstering surgical safety.