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Tip of the week: Take off the gloves

Infection Control Monitor, September 28, 2007

However common it is to see healthcare workers doing so, there are few times when it's permissible for staff members to wear gloves in the hospital hallway, says Gail Bennett, RN, MSN, CIC, executive director at ICP Associates in Rome, GA.

One time this might be appropriate is when a healthcare worker is working with a patient in a room and needs to bring something soiled into the hallway, she says. But more often than not there is no reason for a healthcare worker to wear gloves in the hallway. And any worker who does may be in violation of OSHA's bloodborne pathogen regulations.

Staff members who wear gloves in hallways when circumstances don't warrant their use may also put your hospital at risk for a possible citation from Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) surveyors or state or federal regulators for inappropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), she says.

To learn more about proper glove use, go to www.hcpro.com/content/71460.cfm. The cost is $10. Briefings on Infection Control subscribers received this story with their subscriptions.

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