Double gloving: personal choice or professional requirement?

Abstract

The wearing of sterile gloves is a vitally important element within the perioperative environment. The function of surgical gloves is to act as a protective barrier between the patient, the surgeon and other members of the surgical team where there is contact with blood and body fluids ( Harnoss et all, 2010 ). Therefore, the suggestion of providing additional protection, such as ‘double gloving’ (i.e. the wearing of two pairs of gloves), is recommended by several theatre governing bodies ( National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2008 ). At the moment, however, the evidence suggests that the decision to double glove is based on personal choice ( Pirie, 2010 ). Should this practice be made mandatory? Should the decision still depend on personal preference? Or should we be looking at other methods to provide protection to patients and surgical staff alike?