The impact of glove misuse on patient safety during the Covid-19 pandemic (29 August 2022)

Summary

Gloves are an important part of infection prevention and control, but they are often misused and overused in clinical practice, putting patients at increased risk of infection. During the Covid-19 pandemic, this issue has been exacerbated due to health professionals’ fear and anxiety. This article, published by Nursing Times, explores these issues, as well as actions to encourage the appropriate use of non-sterile gloves to protect both patients and health professionals.

Content

Key points in this article include:

• Glove misuse contributes to the transmission of healthcare-associated infections
• Appropriate and timely hand hygiene is essential in preventing transmission of infections
• Emotion, socialisation and personal preference influence health professionals’ glove use
• Fear about contracting Covid-19 has dominated decision-making about glove use
• Glove misuse may have increased rates of hospital-acquired infections during the Covid-19 pandemic