Healthcare workers are at risk of acquiring viral diseases such as hepatitis B,
hepatitis C and HIV through exposure to contaminated blood and body fluids at
work. Most often infection occurs when a healthcare worker inadvertently
punctures the skin of their hand with a sharp implement that has been used in
the treatment of an infected patient, thus bringing the patient's blood into
contact with their own. Such occurrences are commonly known as percutaneous
exposure incidents.

Recent research detemines that there is moderate-quality evidence that double
gloving compared to single gloving during surgery reduces perforations and
blood stains on the skin, indicating a decrease in percutaneous exposure
incidents. There is low-quality evidence that triple gloving and the use of
special gloves can further reduce the risk of glove perforations compared to
double gloving with normal material gloves. The preventive effect of double
gloves on percutaneous exposure incidents in surgery does not need further
research. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and
cost-effectiveness of special material gloves and triple gloves, and of gloves
in other occupational groups.

More information

AplusA-online.de - Source: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work