Which statement best explains why hand hygiene is performed before donning gloves?

Which statement best explains why hand hygiene is performed before donning gloves?

• A. To shorten procedures
• B. Because gloves can replace hand hygiene
• C. Because gloves do not replace hand hygiene and clean hands reduce contamination risk
• D. To reduce glove cost

Answer: (C)

Hand hygiene before putting on gloves is essential because gloves do not replace clean hands and clean hands reduce contamination risk. Even though gloves form a protective barrier, they can be breached by tiny holes or during the donning process, and microbes on dirty hands can be transferred to the glove surface or to the patient, equipment, or environment. Cleaning the hands first lowers the microbial load, so any potential transfer from hands to the gloves is minimized. After removing gloves, hands should be sanitized again, since gloves can carry contaminants from the outside surface. The other ideas don’t fit because one isn’t about saving time, gloves don’t eliminate the need to clean hands, and cost considerations aren’t the aim of hand hygiene.

Hand hygiene before putting on gloves is essential because gloves do not replace clean hands and clean hands reduce contamination risk. Even though gloves form a protective barrier, they can be breached by tiny holes or during the donning process, and microbes on dirty hands can be transferred to the glove surface or to the patient, equipment, or environment. Cleaning the hands first lowers the microbial load, so any potential transfer from hands to the gloves is minimized. After removing gloves, hands should be sanitized again, since gloves can carry contaminants from the outside surface.

The other ideas don’t fit because one isn’t about saving time, gloves don’t eliminate the need to clean hands, and cost considerations aren’t the aim of hand hygiene.