Is it true???

Is it true that you can get disease even though you are wearing gloves, masks, and a gown?

[lever5]

Universal precautions! No transmission. Freak accident, maybe. You probably run a far greater risk at the local fair or carnival.

[CEN35]

i remember reading a research study about this subject. it was like 4 years ago though so i may be a bit rusty on what i remember.

i believe it said that, when gloves are applied that our body contact, movement and diaphoresis causes a slow deterioration of the glove. that the longer you are using the same gloves, the possibility of coming in contact with something increases. nobody has ever been able to prove that you cannot catch something, just because you wear gloves. that is also one of the reasons handwashing is so important.

i may be anal on this one, but i wash my hands after just about everything i do at work. when i do foleys, ng's and help with chest tubes, central lines, etc., i always double glove.

the only thing i don't double glove for r/t procedures is iv's, abg's, a-lines and blood draws.

me :)

[Jenny P]

My hospital infection control dept. advises us to change our gloves about every 20 minutes because of glove degradation. They therefore advise us not to glove early before doing routine cares (don't have gloves on at the computer for charting, don't glove up before you get supplies, etc.) and to wear the gloves only when actually doing patient cares.

Cen, you DON'T wear gloves for the procedures that will most likely expose you to the patient's blood? Better start practicing a safer method of Universal Precautions, there! With the antibacterial soaps at work, my hands are almost always chapped and I'd hate to work on a patient doing blood draws or starting IVs without gloves.

[CEN35]

jenny!!!! read it again.....i never said i didnt wear gloves........ --> "the only thing i don't double glove for r/t procedures is iv's, abg's, a-lines and blood draws.

me :)