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

Abstract

Objective: To determine if closed glove exchange (CGE) increases hand contamination.

Study design: Prospective experimental study.

Sample population: Surgical teams participating in 65 individual surgical procedures were included, resulting in 200 individual enrollments.

Methods: At 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.

Results: Before 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%).

Conclusion: Closed glove exchange did not increase bacterial hand contamination over baseline levels.

Clinical significance: We found no evidence to support discontinuing CGE.