What Type of Gloves Should Be Used for Complex Wound Care?

The wound care may include various levels of exposure to blood, wound fluid and other body content. It's important to choose the right gloves for healthcare workers, however, rather than just picking a disposable pair of gloves. Factors such as the type of wound, the procedure being performed, and the amount of contact (whether or not an aseptic technique is required) may impact the choice of gloves. As a nurse or another healthcare worker in a hospital, nursing home, community services or home-care environment, it is important to be aware of these differences in order to facilitate appropriate and safe wound care.

Of course, each glove type is important when used as part of complex wound care. More complex wounds may need a more detailed assessment, wound cleaning, and/or other clinical interventions, including dressing. Healthcare workers could be exposed to blood, wound drainage or contaminated materials during these activities. A barrier can be created between the health care worker's hands and potentially infectious material by wearing gloves. Wearing gloves is not a substitute for correct hand hygiene or other infection control precautions, however. The gloves that are chosen should be based on what the procedure is, and not all wounds should be treated in the same way.

Where is the use of Wet or Dry Gloves Mandated?

Sterile gloves are used in a procedure that requires an aseptic technique or if sterility of an area or equipment needs to be preserved. Wound procedures, for instance, could be in contact with a wound and protecting against the spread of infection (asepsis) is a critical component of the clinical situation.

Healthcare professionals should use the appropriate clinical procedure, local policy and infection prevention guidance to make their decision on the need to wear sterile gloves in these situations. The main thing to remember is that sterile gloves must be chosen based on the procedure, not just because the wound is complicated.

When are Non-Sterile Examination Gloves Appropriate?

Non-sterile examination gloves may be appropriate for a wide variety of hand protection situations in which hand protection is needed, but a sterile field is not being maintained. They may be suitable for use when operating dressings, cleaning materials or potentially contaminated items as appropriate to the procedure and local protocols.

Task assessment is recommended prior to choosing gloves by healthcare professionals. Gloves are disposable, but not all gloves are appropriate for all wound care situations.

Are There Any Differences in Gloves Based on Type of Wound?

It is one thing to accept the wound, but it shouldn't be all that matters. The quantity and nature of wound exudates, whether or not there is bleeding, the type of procedure being carried out and the likelihood of contact with contaminated materials should be taken into account.

Treatment of a wound with high exudate levels might call for different practical considerations than a small, clean wound. Likewise, the risks of exposure when using a used dressing may be different than the risks of exposure when using a new dressing with an aseptic technique.

What is the material of the gloved hand?

Gloves also can be relevant for material. The other materials such as Nitrile may have different flex and durability characteristics and other allergy considerations.

Relevant staff and patient requirements should be considered to choose appropriate material of the gloves to be used in healthcare organizations. If latex sensitivity is an issue, then appropriate latex-free alternatives may be required.

The objective is to select a glove that will offer the necessary protection and be usable for the procedure.

Why is Glove size important?

A suitable glove material may be able to be used appropriately if the size is not appropriate. Loose gloves may interfere with handling dressings and other materials and tight gloves may cause discomfort and restrict movement.

Healthcare facilities may then require more than one size of glove, especially if it is likely that more than one member of staff will be performing wound care.

A proper fit helps facilitate improved dexterity and helps to make clinical tasks easier.

When should you change the gloves when caring for a wound?

Gloves need to be changed as needed by the procedure and the infection prevention protocol. When moving from one task to another, gloves may need to be changed, when gloves are contaminated or damaged, or when gloves would be a potential source of cross-contamination for the continued care.

Use gloves not as a substitute for hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is an important aspect of wound care before and after wearing gloves.

Before you start wearing gloves, consider these factors:

Nurses and other health care providers might want to first consider:

What is she doing?

Do you need to use an aseptic technique?

Will there be contact with blood or wound fluid?

Would sterile or non-sterile gloves be suitable?

Which type of gloved material should be used?

Does the right size glove fit?

When do gloves need to be changed during the procedure?

Some of these factors can be taken into account to avoid a one size fits all approach in glove selection.

What is the significance of this in Nursing Homes and Home Care?

Wound care does not only take place in hospitals. Nurses and carers can be providing care on wounds in nursing homes, community care and patients' homes.

There may be various issues on the ground in these environments. Staff may have to move between sites with suitable equipment and/or have access to limited equipment or facility.

Well-stocked with the appropriate size and type of gloves can make wound care more manageable and facilitate the practice of infection prevention.

Gloves are an essential component of any medical supply store.

Gloves are a fundamental piece of the medical supply store. Healthcare institutions must have reliable supplies of gloves for both routine and more complicated clinical tasks.

Healthcare organisations must have a reliable supply of gloves for routine and more complex clinical tasks. They should take into account the nature of wound care involved, materials that will be used, size of the purchase and the need for sterile items for specific procedures when buying.

Medguard Healthcare provides medical and healthcare products for professional care uses, such as gloves, which are part of wound care.

Selecting Gloves as a part of the Wound Care Plan!

No one glove fits all types of complex wounds. It will depend on the procedure, anticipated exposure, aseptic requirements, type of glove and appropriate clinical guidance.

The review of the gloves required in connection with wound care processes for hospitals, nursing homes, community nurses and home-care professionals can ensure that appropriate products are available when required.

The key to choosing gloves is finding the right glove for the job. Thinking about the procedure, exposure risk, sterility requirement and practical needs of the healthcare professional could help to make wound care more organised in complex cases.