Donning Gloves Using the Sliding-Closed Technique Has a Larger Distance to Contamination at the Gown-Glove Interface

Area of Science:

• Surgical Infection Control
• Sterile Technique Optimization
• Medical Device Contamination

Background:

• The surgical gown-glove interface is a recognized source of bacterial contamination during procedures.
• Optimizing glove donning techniques, with sterile assistant aid, can minimize contamination risks.
• Current gloving methods may not fully prevent contamination at this critical interface.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare bacterial contamination levels inside the glove cuff between a novel sliding-closed (SC) gloving technique and the traditional open gloving technique.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the SC technique in maintaining a sterile barrier.
• To assess the impact of prior experience on the efficacy of the SC technique.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted using ultraviolet indicator lotion applied before donning sterile gloves and gowns.
• Surgeons utilized either the traditional open gloving technique or the novel SC technique.
• Contamination was quantified by measuring the distance from the glove cuff to the nearest contamination site, assessed by blinded inspectors.

Main Results:

• The SC technique demonstrated a significantly greater distance to contamination (150 mm) compared to the open technique (65 mm; P ≤ 0.001), irrespective of surgeon experience.
• Surgeons experienced with the SC technique showed a larger median distance to contamination (125 mm) than novices (90 mm; P = .002).
• The SC technique consistently provided a superior sterile barrier at the glove cuff.

Conclusions:

• The SC-assisted gloving technique significantly increases the distance from the glove cuff to contamination compared to the traditional open technique.
• Adoption of the SC technique is recommended to reduce infection risk in surgical settings.
• This technique serves as a valuable addition to existing infection control measures.