Contaminated gloves spread healthcare-associated pathogens across hospital surfaces

A study analyzing the transmission of healthcare-associated infections has found that the failure to change or remove contaminated gloves leads to the spread of diseases, especially in the case of Acinetobacter baumannii, reports Healio.  

“Gloving is recommended as a barrier protection for health care workers to reduce the risk of contamination during contact with infectious sputum, urine and body fluids,” said Kazue Fujita, MD, of the Nippon Medical School, Tokyo. “Failure to change or remove contaminated gloves carries a high risk of microorganisms’ transmission.”

Fujita and colleagues inoculated nitrile examination gloves with a variety of diseases such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, MDR A. baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or MDR P. aeruginosa. Researchers then touched the contaminated gloves to a sterilized polypropylene surface either immediately after inoculation or after three minutes, when the gloves had dried.

When the glove was newly incubated every bacteria was able to spread onto the sterilized surface. When the glove was dry, only A. baumannii and MDR A. baumannii were able to be detected on the sterilized surface.

Fujita believes that because many bacteria were not transferred when the glove was dry, it is crucial for hospitals in limiting the spread of these diseases. It may also save money and time. In dealing with A. baumannii, Fujita indicated a need for caution when dealing with this specific bacterium.

“A. baumannii are at high risk of transmission from gloves to hospital surfaces,” Fujita said. “Improving glove-use compliance will decrease the risk of healthcare-associated infections. It is also important to establish a basis for a risk assessment and management approach to each bacteria.”

Fujita said work is still required to quantify each species’ transmission in real-world settings, even as the study produces new information the need for a larger capacity and understanding is needed.