Practice of changing gloves and its effect on surgical-site infections

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Abstract
Surgical-site infection (SSI) remains a common complication after surgery that increases morbidity and mortality, and causes considerable strain on both patients and the healthcare system1. The use of wound closure protocols, including the routine change of gloves and instruments, has been suggested to help prevent SSI. Although this may seem common sense in the presence of gross contamination or large glove tears, it is less obvious when gloves or instruments appear to be clean and intact. However, widespread awareness of pathogens and of the prevalence of microperforations in surgical gloves does, at least theoretically, support this practice2. Yet, the routine change of gloves and instruments before wound closure is not standard practice2,3.

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