PPE Gloves

Reviewed: January 2025

Gloves further reduce the risk of transferring micro-organisms between people and must be used with hand washing. They are not a substitute for basic hygiene practices.

Clean, non-sterile disposable gloves are required for:

• Any exposure/handling of blood or body fluids

• Any handling of contaminated environmental objects

• If there is non-intact skin on the hands

They must be changed:

• Between different patients

• Between activities on the same patient, if highly contaminated

• If they are damaged

Types of Gloves

Considerations for buying stocks of gloves

• purpose of use, e.g. patient care, barrier or cleaning
• size of gloves required for your workforce
• whether there will be active screening at the facility
• material, e.g. latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves

Limitation of gloves

• Prone to holes and tears even before use

• Extended wear can degrade glove material

• Protects against gross/visible contamination but does provide a perfect seal against all contamination

Re-use of gloves

• Not recommended: rapid degradation by exposure to chemical disinfection

• Better strategy: prioritizing disposable gloves to most critical patient care activities

• Do NOT use plastic bags or no gloves. This is a safety hazard to you, other staff, and patients