Dr. Jutharat Attawet, Dr. Mercy Thomas, Amy Kim and Sarah Park (Image: theglovestore.co.uk)

In healthcare, gloves are essential when there’s a real risk of exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated surfaces. Yet, gloves are often worn out of habit in situations where they provide no added safety. This overuse leads to significant environmental waste, inflates healthcare costs, and can even detract from optimal infection control practices.

Misconceptions about glove use

Healthcare professionals, including nursing students, frequently wear gloves during low-risk tasks where they offer minimal infection control benefit. For instance, gloves are commonly used for routine observations, such as taking blood pressure or recording temperature, as well as tasks like mixing medications or administering intravenous antibiotics (IVABs). In these scenarios, gloves are generally unnecessary unless there is a clear risk of exposure to bodily fluids. Despite the clear guidelines provided by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACQSHC) on appropriate glove use, this practice persists, fostering a culture of habitual overuse. Adhering to the ACQSHC guidelines can not only reduce unnecessary glove use but also foster more sustainable and efficient healthcare practices.

The overuse of gloves may stem from misconceptions about infection control and the specific purposes of gloves, leading to their application in routine activities where they are not required. Gloves are not essential for many direct patient contact tasks, including taking vital signs, administering subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, or assisting patients with bathing and dressing when body  fluid exposure is not anticipated. Similarly, activities such as transporting patients or applying non-invasive ventilation and oxygen equipment do not typically necessitate glove use. Gloves are also unnecessary for many indirect patient contact tasks such as making beds, handling telephones, documenting in charts or digital records, distributing or collecting meal trays, moving patient furniture, and preparing medications—except when handling substances such as cytotoxic drugs or hormonal treatments that require specific precautions.

The Consequences of overusing gloves

The overuse of gloves in healthcare has significant consequences, including missed hand hygiene opportunities, environmental harm and increased costs. Gloves often create a false sense of security, leading healthcare providers to skip critical hand hygiene steps which are essential for infection prevention and control. Environmentally, excessive glove use contributes to the healthcare sector’s substantial carbon footprint, with single-use plastics like gloves accounting for a large portion of waste. For example, intensive care units may use up to 30 pairs of gloves per patient in a 12-hour shift; unnecessary glove use increases waste and ecological costs. Financially, the procurement and disposal of gloves strain budgets, diverting resources from initiatives that could enhance patient care.

Changing the culture of glove use

Addressing the overuse of gloves begins with understanding and reinforcing the basic purpose of glove use in healthcare. Small steps, such as educating healthcare providers and students on evidence-based guidelines, can shift perspectives, reduce habitual misuse, and foster a culture of sustainability. Every action to clarify these practices is a step toward reducing healthcare’s environmental impact and enhancing infection prevention and control practices.

References:

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2024). Sustainable glove use for healthcare workers: Fact sheet. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au World Health Organization. (2009). Glove use information leaflet. World Health Organization. Retrieved from glove-use-information-leaflet.pdf