8806-26 - What You Can't See May be Putting You at Risk.  Latest Evidence in Surgical Gloving Safety Practices

Presentation Times:

Monday, 4/13/2026: 9:15am, 10:00am, 12:15pm, 1:00 pm
Tuesday, 4/14/2026: 10:30am, 11:15am, 12:00pm

Surgical gloves are a critical protective barrier that safeguard both patients and clinicians from bioburden transfer, sharps injuries, chemical exposure, and radiation. Despite their essential function, glove integrity is not absolute; both visible tears and subtle microperforations can occur, often without detection. These unrecognized breaches can increase the likelihood of contamination, exposure events, and downstream clinical risks.

Using two layers of gloves, particularly with a visual perforation indicator system, greatly improves the ability to identify breaches as soon as they happen. Regularly scheduled glove changes also reduce bacterial contamination and help prevent hidden perforations from persisting throughout a procedure. This often includes changing outer gloves at set intervals and adjusting inner‑glove changes based on duration and condition.

Integrating practices such as indicator double gloving, structured glove‑change intervals, proper glove fitting, and procedure‑specific glove selection strengthens safety for the entire perioperative team. When implemented as part of a facility‑wide policy, these strategies enhance breach detection, reduce exposure risk, and promote safer surgical outcomes for patients and clinicians alike.