When should hand hygiene be performed relative to glove use?

When should hand hygiene be performed relative to glove use?

• A. Before donning gloves and after removing gloves, with hand hygiene performed after glove removal.
• B. Before putting on gloves only.
• C. After wearing gloves for extended periods.
• D. There is no need to perform hand hygiene around gloves.

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene should be done both before putting on gloves and after removing them. This protects the patient and you by preventing contamination from hands to the gloves and from gloves or contaminated surfaces back to your hands. Washing before gloving reduces the chance of transferring organisms to the patient and helps ensure the glove itself stays clean on the inside. Washing after removal is crucial because the process of taking gloves off can contaminate the hands, and any organisms picked up during that removal or from touched surfaces are then washed away. Remember, gloves are a barrier, not a substitute for hand hygiene, so hands should be cleaned both before you glove up and after you discard the gloves.

Hand hygiene should be done both before putting on gloves and after removing them. This protects the patient and you by preventing contamination from hands to the gloves and from gloves or contaminated surfaces back to your hands. Washing before gloving reduces the chance of transferring organisms to the patient and helps ensure the glove itself stays clean on the inside. Washing after removal is crucial because the process of taking gloves off can contaminate the hands, and any organisms picked up during that removal or from touched surfaces are then washed away. Remember, gloves are a barrier, not a substitute for hand hygiene, so hands should be cleaned both before you glove up and after you discard the gloves.