International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) was launched by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) [1]. Held annually during the third week of October for 30 years, it draws global attention to the importance of infection prevention. The campaign targets both healthcare professionals and the general public, as every individual can contribute to infection prevention. HARTMANN is once again actively supporting the campaign. Under the theme ‘Conscious use of gloves for infection prevention,’ we are raising awareness that not every patient contact requires gloves. What matters most is the proper use of disposable medical gloves—combined with consistent hand hygiene. This effectively breaks infection chains and minimizes the risk of serious infections.
Disposable medical gloves are an integral part of the healthcare sector. They protect both staff and patients from potential pathogens and are considered a fundamental hygiene measure. But are they always used only when actually necessary? A survey of British healthcare professionals in surgical settings reveals that 67% of respondents use non-sterile gloves in situations where they are not indicated [2]. The reasons for this are diverse, ranging from habit and organizational culture to social influences. Unclear guidelines also made it difficult for respondents to reduce unnecessary usage [2]. Yet, targeted use is crucial—not only for infection prevention but also for conserving resources.
A common misconception is to view gloves as a substitute for hand disinfection. Indeed, a study showed that hand hygiene is frequently neglected when the medical staff wears gloves [3]. If used improperly, gloves can even lead to the indirect transmission of pathogens and increase the patients’ risk [3, 4]. Errors during donning or doffing gloves can also lead to pathogen transmission, as demonstrated by a study in which the environment was contaminated due to improper disposal [5]. Furthermore, disposable medical gloves may already be defective prior to use due to manufacturing errors. According to DIN EN 455, for example, with an Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) of 1.5 and a sample size of 200, this may apply to a maximum of 3.5% of the gloves. This means that up to 7 out of 200 gloves may be defective [6]. Consequently, hand disinfection remains a cornerstone of standard hygiene and one of the most important measures for infection prevention—regardless of whether gloves are worn. Gloves and hand hygiene complement each other; they do not replace one another.
In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a leaflet defining clear indications for the use of gloves. According to this guidance, gloves are required—among other instances—during contact with blood or mucous membranes, the insertion of vascular access devices, and drawing blood. At the same time, the WHO identifies situations where glove use is not indicated, such as during subcutaneous or intramuscular injections, blood pressure measurements, assisting patients with dressing or undressing, or transporting patients. These clear guidelines aim to promote the appropriate use of gloves and reduce unnecessary usage [7].
As disposable medical products significantly impact resource consumption in the healthcare sector, the use of disposable medical gloves must be considered from both medical and environmental perspectives. An analysis by Schuster et al. [8] outlines specific recommendations for ecological sustainability in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine. This analysis is an essential component of an environmentally responsible hygiene concept in hospitals and care facilities [8].
Review the recommended indications for glove use and download our poster as a practical aid for your daily clinical routine.
Standard hygiene precautions consist of numerous individual measures; this encompasses not only hand hygiene and glove use but, among others, also surface hygiene and the reprocessing of medical devices. Every correctly implemented measure helps prevent the transmission of pathogens. Infection prevention is often most effective when risks are prevented from arising in the first place—as is the case with sepsis prevention. Many people mistakenly associate sepsis primarily with intensive or emergency care. In fact, sepsis prevention begins much earlier: many infections—often preventable through consistent hygiene measures—can progress to a severe course and develop into sepsis [9, 10]. This is why standard hygiene precautions are so important; these include consistent hand and surface hygiene as well as the use of disposable medical gloves based on specific indications—including hand disinfection before donning and after doffing the gloves. By breaking infection chains, healthcare professionals make a vital contribution to protecting their patients. Consequently, the proper handling of disposable medical gloves is far more than just a routine task; it requires expertise. As part of consistent standard hygiene practices, it helps prevent infections and thereby reduces the risk of serious complications—including sepsis.
