The September 2017, issue of the American Journal of Infection Control attributes failure of nursing home workers to change medical gloves to the spreading of infectious microorganisms in skilled nursing homes and long-term care facilities (LTCFs).
Much of the care in nursing homes is provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who have a great deal of contact with the residents. This broad-based contact can be a major source of infections being spread among the residents when gloves are not used correctly failing to change medical gloves after caring for each resident and after coming into contact with potentially infectious body fluids or materials.
The cost in lives and dollars is significant. It is estimated that there are 1.6 to 2.8 million infections occurring each year in LTCFs, and these infections are believed to cause nearly 400,000 deaths and cost from $673 million to $2 billion each year.
A unique study, by Deborah Patterson Burdsall, PhD, RN-BC, CIC, at the University of Iowa, College of Nursing that involved a random selection of 74 CNAs “performing toileting and perineal care” at a LTCF, revealed a frequent occurrence of incorrect use and changing of medical gloves.
“Gloves are an essential component of standard precautions, and proper use of gloves is a critical component of best practices to prevent HAIs,” said Linda Greene, RN, MPS, CIC, FAPIC, the 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology president. “This is especially important in long-term care, where residents are more vulnerable to infection and stay for extended periods. Facilities must continually educate healthcare providers about the importance of appropriate glove use to prevent infection and monitor adherence to this practice.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends standard precautions requiring all CNAs to wear personal protective equipment, especially gloves, to avoid contact with blood, secretions, excretions, or other potentially infectious materials that may contain pathogens. CNAs must change medical gloves as a standard precaution at the following glove change points during patient care: when the gloves have touched blood or body fluids; after the CNA completes a patient task; after the gloves touch a potentially contaminated site; and in between patients.
“Glove use behavior is as important as hand washing when it comes to infection prevention,” said Burdsall. “These findings indicate that glove use behavior should be monitored alongside hand hygiene. The observations should be shared with staff to improve behaviors and reduce the risk of disease transmission.”
*Quotes from APIC Article: “Nursing home workers often fail to change gloves, risking spread of infection”*
