Does wearing gloves replace the need for handwashing?
Wearing gloves does not replace the need for handwashing. Personnel should wash their hands immediately before donning gloves. Gloves may have small, unapparent defects or may be torn during use, and hands can become contaminated during removal of gloves. In addition, bacteria can multiply rapidly in moist environments underneath gloves; thus, personnel should dry their hands thoroughly before donning gloves and wash immediately after removing the gloves. If the integrity of a glove is compromised (e.g., if the glove is punctured), the glove should be changed as soon as possible.
