Influence of closed glove exchange on bacterial contamination of the hands of the surgical team

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo determine if closed glove exchange (CGE) increases hand contamination.Study designProspective experimental study.Sample populationSurgical teams participating in 65 individual surgical procedures were included, resulting in 200 individual enrollments.MethodsAt the completion of surgery, gloves were removed and hands were swabbed. The inside of the gown cuff was swabbed. Each participant regloved, using a closed gloving technique. The new gloves were removed, and hands were swabbed for culture a second time. Swabs underwent standard bacterial culture.ResultsBefore glove exchange, or baseline, contamination was found on 17/200 dominant hands and 13/200 nondominant hands. After performing CGE, contamination was found on 14/200 and 15/200 dominant and nondominant hands, respectively. No difference was detected between the number of CFUs cultured from a surgeon's hands before CGE and the number of CFUs cultured from a surgeon's hands post‐CGE (one sided sign test, p = .61). Twelve (12) different bacterial species were identified, the most common were Staphylococcus spp. (97/154; 63%).ConclusionClosed glove exchange did not increase bacterial hand contamination over baseline levels.Clinical significanceWe found no evidence to support discontinuing CGE.