Why and when to use medical examination gloves

What are medical examination gloves? 

Medical examination gloves are disposable gloves used during medical procedures. They are designed to protect both healthcare workers and patients during contact with blood, body fluids and other potentially infectious material. 

Why should medical examination gloves be used? 

According to the WHO Glove Use Information Leaflet, medical gloves are recommended for two main reasons:  

• To reduce the risk of contamination of healthcare workers. 
  Gloves help protect hands from contact with blood and other body fluids, lowering the risk that healthcare workers’ skin becomes contaminated. 
  
  
• To reduce the risk of spreading germs.
  Gloves help reduce the risk of germ dissemination to the environment and of transmission from the healthcare worker to the patient and vice versa, as well as from one patient to another. 

Gloves are therefore an important part of infection prevention, alongside other standard precautions such as hand hygiene. 

When should medical examination gloves be used? 

Medical examination gloves should be worn when there is a risk of contact with: 

• Blood and body fluids.
• Mucous membranes.
• Non‑intact skin.
• Potentially infectious material.

Gloves should also be used during contact precautions and outbreak situations. 

Gloves must be changed between tasks and procedures on the same patient after contact with material that may contain a high concentration of micro‑organisms. This reduces the risk of transferring germs from one body site to another.  

It is important not to wear gloves when they are not indicated. Unnecessary glove use is a waste of resources and does not reduce cross‑transmission.  

In which situations should gloves always be worn? 

Gloves should always be worn when there is:

• Risk of contact with blood, urine, feces or other bodily fluids.
• Handling of most chemicals.
• Preparation and administration of certain medicines, such as cytostatics.
• Cleaning of instruments.

These situations carry a clear risk of exposure to infectious material or hazardous substances and therefore require consistent glove use. 

How should medical examination gloves be used?

Gloves should never be used as a substitute for hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is still necessary both before and after glove use.  

To support safe and appropriate use: 

• Perform hand hygiene before putting on gloves and after removing them. 
• Change gloves between tasks and between patients. 
• Remove gloves immediately after completing the task for which they were worn. 
• Dispose of gloves safely according to local guidelines. 

 

Choosing the right glove for the task and for any chemicals involved is essential. The Evercare Medical glove guide provides recommendations to help you select the appropriate glove. The guide supports your ambition to use the right glove for the right purpose by offering information on material, size, REF number, color, key features, level of protection and recommended use.

Glove guide