Glove Use: What’s wrong with this picture?

Correct glove use is an important part of hand hygiene. Every year, millions of pairs of gloves are used within BC’s healthcare facilities… but are they all being used correctly?

PHSA employees and medical staff are invited to enter the “What’s wrong with this picture?” competition and tell us what not to do when it comes to glove use. (Employees of other health authorities can find this contest on their intranet.)

For the next four weeks, two photos will be posted each week on the PICNet website. To play, just enter your guess into the comments section below the post — we want to know what’s wrong with the glove use and what is actually the right thing to do. (And there may be a couple of red herrings in there!) 

Prizes up for grabs include a “Let’s Go Viral!” infection control training kit, or a Germ Bowling set. Prize winners will be randomly drawn from all the correct entries, and announced on June 23.

The details:

• There are eight pictures in all — two for each week, from May 25 through June 18.
• Check out each week’s pictures, then scroll down to the comment section and post your guess about the glove use error that’s being shown in the picture. Sharing tips for the right glove procedures is also encouraged.
• You only need to enter once to be eligible to win; but the more weeks you enter, the greater your chances! The contest closes June 21 at midnight (you can post answers to any week’s photos up until then).
• Draw prize winners will be drawn from correct answers and announced on June 23. You must use a valid PHSA email address to comment and enter the draw.
• Have fun and don’t forget to check back next week for new pictures!

Need a review on proper glove use?

When to use gloves

• Wear gloves when it is anticipated that the hands will be in contact with mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or bodily fluids; or if the patient is on contact precautions.

Hand cleaning

• The use of gloves does not replace the need for hand hygiene.
• Gloves can leak (even if it’s not visible), which means that germs can get through gloves.
• Because of this, you need to clean hands before donning gloves (so that any germs on your hand aren’t transferred through the glove to the patient) and after doffing gloves (so that germs from the patient or patient environment, that have transferred to your hands, are not further spread around)

If gloves don’t protect against all germs, why do we use them?

• Think of gloves as being like a seatbelt – they give you and your patients good protection, but not 100% protection. It makes sense to use them in situations where your hands may become grossly soiled, but you must still clean hands before and after.

Donning and Doffing

• Before donning gloves, wash your hands with soap and water or clean with sanitizer, and make sure hands are completely dry.
• Gloves should be put on immediately before the activity for which they are indicated.
• Gloves should be removed immediately and discarded after the activity for which they were used, and before exiting the environment of a patient. Wash your hands with soap and water or clean with sanitizer after removing the gloves.

More important points:

• Disposable gloves should not be washed or re-used.
• Gloves should never be re-worn between patients.
• Gloves should be changed or removed when moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site within the same patient.
• Gloves should be changed or removed after touching a contaminated environmental surface.
• Never wear gloves outside a patient room or bedspace unless transporting contaminated items or when cleaning spills of blood or bodily fluids.
• To reduce hand irritation related to gloves, wear gloves for as short a time as possible.

Week 1 photos (click to enlarge)

What’s wrong in these photos? …Leave your comments below! (If you can’t see the Comments box, click More, below.)