The Role of Gloves in Infection Control

Infection requires a Virulent Source, an Infective Dose, a Method of Transmission, and a Successful Host.

The four recognized routes of infection are; Contact, Common-Vehicle, Airborne, and Vector Borne. Gloves are vital barriers to the first two of these.

Contact

Direct contact transmission is combated by scrubs, hand disinfection, gloves, and suitable barrier clothing like gowns and aprons. Thorough washing after contact is also effective. Do not re-use gloves. Double-glove where there is risk of permeation and sharps puncture.

Indirect contact transmission prevention includes cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of all surfaces, instruments and materials which may carry the infection. Indirect contact also includes aerosol transmission which is controlled by the proper use of surgical masks.

Common vehicle

The most frequent common Vehicle routes are blood and other body substances. Contact should be prevented by using gloves and protective clothing like eyeware and masks. Other common-vehicle routes are water, food, and drugs, all protected by good hygienic practice.

Universal precautions

The relevance of common-vehicle infection to hepatitis and HIV has resulted in the global acceptance of Universal Blood and Body Substance Precautions, the key principle of which is, "You can't judge a blood by its cover".

Treat all body substances
from all people
as potentially infectious

The risk of infection is directly related to exposure. Limit your exposure by following the Universal Precautions.