Healthcare workers put dirty hands in latex gloves - study

ERJ staff report (DS)

London -- Although the use of latex gloves reduces the spread of infection, workers who do not wash hands before donning the gloves increase the risk of infection, according to a new academic study. The study, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology looked at the behaviour of healthcare workers in 56 medical or care of the elderly wards and intensive care units in 15 hospitals across England and Wales.

The study found that The rate of glove usage is lower than previously reported. Gloves are often worn when not indicated and vice versa. The rate of compliance with hand hygiene was significantly lower when gloves were worn. The researchers said, "glove use was strongly associated with lower levels of hand hygiene "

“The Dirty Hand in the Latex Glove”: A Study of Hand Hygiene Compliance When Gloves Are Worn, by Christopher Fuller, Joanne Savage, Sarah Besser, Andrew Hayward, Barry Cookson, Ben Cooper, Sheldon Stone: Published online Oct 17, 2011

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Journal abstract from Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology