Efforts to Promote Double Gloving in Surgery

Abstract

A working group was formed to strengthen measures to prevent surgical site infections in the perioperative period. The group compared different surgical glove materials and promoted double gloving as a best practice standard to reduce surgical site infections. The group recommended abolishing latex gloves to prevent allergic reactions.

We investigated glove-wearing behavior in 16 surgical departments to identify gloves that could most effectively reduce barriers to adoption of double gloving. Three sets were used experimentally on 80 surgical doctors and 47 operating room nurses. After the trial, we conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey and evaluated according to three items: operability, wearing comfort, and skin symptoms. Based on the evaluation results, we introduced latex-free, double gloving that does not affect surgical operations. As a result, double gloving became the operational standard, and the compliance rate increased from 51% in 2019 and 49% in 2020 to 99% in 2021.

We will continue to promote the double gloving to prevent surgical site infections and occupational infections. We will periodically review the choice of glove together with surgical doctors and operating room nurses, taking into account factors such as glove quality, price, and user experience.