Double gloving is the recommended best practice when gloving for surgery as it provides an additional level of protection against blood-borne infections and greatly reduces the risk of glove penetrations.1
The main causes of blood contacts by operating personnel are surgical glove punctures and tears in the operating room.2 Double gloving reduces risk of inner glove perforations by 71% compared to single gloving3 and are recommended by professional organizations including AORN, WHO and CDC.
82% of perforations of the outer glove go un-noticed by those who double glove, posing a risk to the glove wearer.4 Wearing a colored inner glove is preferred as it increases identification of a breach by as much as 86%.5
Routine glove changing, preferably every two hours, is recommended for all surgeries. This is especially so for procedures involving intensive work on bones or when operating on high-risk cases. Removing both pairs of gloves when a perforation occurs is another best practice to consider since a perforation in the outer glove is an indication that the inner glove may be compromised as well.6
Wearing a colored inner glove increases the identification of a perforation by as much as 86%.5
Double gloving reduces glove perforation by 71% compared to single gloving3
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References
1. Opinion of the scientific committee on medical products and medical devices on ‘The protection offered by natural rubber latex devices (medical gloves and condoms) against transmissible diseases’. European Commission. Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General. October 2003
2. Clyde Smoot E. Practical Precautions for avoiding sharp injuries and blood exposure. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998; vol. 101(2): 528-534
3. Mischke C, Verbeek JH, Saarto A, Lavoie MC, Pahwa M, Ijaz S Gloves, extra gloves special types of gloves for preventing percutaneous exposure injuries in healthcare personnel (Review) The Cochrane Collaboration
4. Partecke LI, Goerdt A-M, Langner I, et al. Incidence of microperforation for surgical gloves depends on duration of wear. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009; 30:409-414
5. Laine T, Aarnio P. How often does glove perforation occur in surgery? Comparison between single gloves and a double-gloving system. American journal of surgery 2001;181:564-6
6. Thomas-Copeland J. Do surgical personnel really need to double glove? AORN J. 2009;89(2): 322-328.:
