Study: Some Healthcare Workers Use Gloves as Substitute for Proper Hand Hygiene

A British study has found that healthcare workers who wear gloves while treating patients are less likely to wash their hands in between patients, suggesting that they might be substituting glove use for additional recommended hand hygiene protocols.

The researchers observed more than 7,000 patient contacts in 56 ICUs and geriatric care units in 15 different hospitals. They found that proper hand hygiene compliance - both changing gloves and washing one's hands - happened only 47.7 percent of the time.

The study noted that hands can be contaminated by "back spray" of bodily fluids when gloves are removed and that some germs can get through latex gloves.

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