A reminder that every packaged purchase you make creates a problem for someone else. Let’s take a look at the
recycling myth.
In better news, the latest
PPE guidance explicitly states that, whilst masks remain universal, gloves and aprons can be used selectively.
From the guidance:
6.5.2 Disposable gloves
Gloves are not an alternative to hand hygiene. Inappropriate use of gloves, including not changing them as recommended above, risks the gloves contributing to the transfer of infectious agents and cross infection.
Gloves are not required unless exposure to blood and/or other body fluids, non-intact skin or mucous membranes is anticipated or likely.
6.5.3 Aprons and gowns
Disposable plastic aprons must be worn to protect staff uniform or clothes from contamination when providing direct patient care for patients with suspected or confirmed respiratory infection and during environmental and equipment decontamination.
6.5.7 Summary of PPE required for direct care of patients with suspected or confirmed respiratory infection
If there is no direct contact with the patient or their environment, gloves and aprons/gowns are not required.
The misuse of gloves is a particular bugbear of mine. There has never been any evidence to support the use of gloves for clinical procedures/examinations during which contamination with bodily fluids is not expected. Anecdotally, I have seen colleagues work an entire ED shift without washing hands, instead relying on single-use gloves - this is counterproductive! A nice little piece of evidence here:
“The dirty hand in the latex glove”: a study of hand hygiene compliance when gloves are worn.
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