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Consensus guidelines on glove use
A free webinar was recently hosted on the ‘Consensus Guidelines for Best Practices in the Selection and Use of Examination Gloves in Healthcare Settings’, developed by leading IPC associations in Portugal. In this article, we outline the main findings, which can be shared across countries, including the UK, to drive improvement.
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) present significant challenges in modern healthcare, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Examination gloves play a critical role in infection prevention by serving as a barrier to reduce the risk of cross contamination between healthcare workers and patients. Appropriately selecting and using examination gloves are critical components of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. The ‘Consensus Guidelines for Best Practices
in the Selection and Use of Examination Gloves in Healthcare Settings’ (Freitas, et al. 2025) developed by leading IPC associations in Portugal, addresses critical challenges in infection prevention, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental sustainability, with a focus on the proper selection, use, and disposal of examination gloves. The document provides practical, evidence-based recommendations for healthcare professionals, which are applicable to healthcare organisations in other countries, including the UK. The guidelines aim to improve infection prevention, enhance patient and healthcare worker safety, and support environmental sustainability. The key recommendations include:
Hand hygiene Performing hand hygiene before and after the use of gloves is essential in the prevention of infection, with strong scientific evidence. It is a simple measure, represents the first line of defence against the spread of pathogenic microorganisms, and is widely recognised by the scientific community as the key intervention in the fight against HCAIs.
Correct technique for putting on and removing gloves Gloves should be removed from the packaging, ensuring that contact is made only through the cuff of the glove and then putting it on, without further handling the glove, so as to completely cover the hand without touching the external surface, thus avoiding excessive manipulation to prevent the transfer of microorganisms from the hands to the glove.
Glove Selection The consensus reached by the expert panel emphasises the importance of careful selection of examination gloves based on both clinical and environmental factors. Gloves must meet specific criteria for quality, durability, and safety
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to ensure they provide adequate protection in various healthcare settings. Recommendations were structured to ensure compliance with international regulations and sustainability frameworks aligned with the One Health approach and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To support the decision of health professionals, Table 1 & 2 present the parameters and fundamental factors for the choice of examination gloves. The use of examination gloves is not without risks and is often related to their quality, ultimately impacting healthcare professionals and the patients they care for. Wearing quality gloves during care is one of the ways to prevent the transmission of HCAIs and, consequently, to contribute to the reduction in MMR. By adhering to these guidelines, healthcare
professionals can make informed decisions that enhance patient safety, protect healthcare workers, and minimise environmental impact.
Fig 1. 6
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Why the selection of proper single use examination gloves is so relevant Examination gloves are not merely a com- modity but a critical tool in mitigating HCAIs and preventing cross-contamination. Studies have demonstrated that the proper use of gloves significantly reduces the transmission of pathogens between healthcare workers and patients, thereby lowering the incidence of HCAIs (Loveday et al, 2014). Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that hand hygiene and glove use are essential components of infection prevention and control protocols, especially in high-risk environments such as hospitals (WHO, 2009). Thus, gloves play a vital role in maintaining safety and infection control within healthcare settings. Inadequate
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