When should healthcare workers replace their gloves?

Replacing gloves after each patient contact or if they become torn is crucial for maintaining infection control and ensuring patient safety. This practice minimizes the risk of cross-contamination between patients, which is especially important in healthcare settings where infections can easily spread. Healthcare workers are often in contact with bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or infectious material, so changing gloves appropriately helps protect both the healthcare worker and the patients.

Furthermore, using torn gloves can compromise barrier protection, making it easier for pathogens to enter the healthcare worker's skin or transfer to another patient. The frequent replacement of gloves is a key part of standard precautions and aligns with best practices for infection prevention in clinical environments. This approach supports the overall goal of reducing healthcare-associated infections by ensuring that protective measures are effectively implemented.