The debate over wearing sterile gloves has been going on for decades among health care providers everywhere. Many studies have been done on the actual benefits of wearing sterile gloves while caring for patients ranging from the common cold to Ebola. The studies have mixed results and no definitive answer on whether or not gloves help stop the spread of infection. However, after taking a closer look at some of the evidence, it is clear that there are numerous benefits to wearing sterile gloves while providing care for patients.

Gripping and holding surfaces

Health care providers must constantly hold or grip a variety of surfaces while caring for patients. Whether it is the bed rail, the wheelchair handle (if they were able to walk), corners of tables, and many more surfaces that health care providers encounter daily. All of these objects can contain germs which mean if health care providers do not wear gloves, those germs can easily be transferred from one surface to another via their hands. When health care providers do not wear sterile gloves while caring for patients, there is an increased possibility of cross-contamination between different surfaces.

The most common ways that germs spread are through direct skin contact and hand-to-hand contact. However, in a study done on the effectiveness of sterile gloves versus standard examination gloves, it was found that “Sterile gloves reduced bacterial contamination by half compared with non-sterile examination gloves.” This shows how utilizing sterile gloves while they care for patients can help reduce cross-contamination between different surfaces, which can prevent many infection cases.

Reduce the risk of blood exposure

Another benefit to wearing sterile gloves while caring for patients is the reduced chance of blood exposure, especially because there are various types of serious diseases or conditions that health care providers could come into contact with like hepatitis B and C, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), and many other viruses or diseases. The high amount of germs present on a patient’s body can easily be transmitted to another person if health care providers do not wear sterile gloves. In the same study done earlier, it was found that using sterile gloves “reduced the risk of blood exposure by 70%.” This information clarifies why sterile gloves should be worn while providing care for patients because they help reduce the likelihood of spreading blood-borne diseases between individuals.

Prevention of cross-contamination

Another benefit that comes from wearing sterile gloves is the prevention of any cross-contamination that may occur. For example, many common viruses or diseases spread via surfaces like countertops, doorknobs, and other similar objects, which means those germs can easily be spread if gloves are not worn. Therefore, when health care providers wear sterile gloves, it lessens the chance of cross-contamination between individuals and surfaces. This is why sterile gloves should be worn when performing any type of work with patients because they help reduce the risk of spreading germs that may lead to an infection or other disease.