A study of the use of gloves in a large teaching hospital.
A study was conducted in the wards and laboratory of a 900-bed teaching hospital to determine the appropriateness of glove use. In the wards the rate of appropriate use was 59%, and in the laboratory it was 90%. In general, in the patient areas gloves were used for specific tasks (70%) whereas in the laboratory use for a specific task was only 32%. Financial savings could be realized by educational programs in infection control directed toward a more rational use of gloves.
Stringer
B
B
Division of Medical Microbiology, Vancouver General Hospital, B.C., Canada.
Smith
J A
JA
Scharf
S
S
Valentine
A
A
Walker
M M
MM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001955:British Columbia; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*