Using sterile gloves might not be crucial in preventing infections during wound care.
This is according to a comprehensive analysis of various studies.
The conclusion has cost-saving and environmental implications for the future delivery of health care.
According to a meta-analysis led by Loai Albarqouni and his team at Bond University, Queensland, Australia, the pooled results from multiple trials indicated no significant difference in infection risk between using sterile or nonsterile gloves for repairing wounds.
However, the conclusion was drawn from evidence specifically related to simple, clean wound repairs – and might not necessarily apply to other types of injuries.
The conventional recommendation of using sterile gloves for infection prevention lacks clear evidence supporting the inefficiency of nonsterile gloves, especially concerning superficial wounds.
Albarqouni emphasised that while emergency rooms often opt for super-clean gloves to minimise infections during wound treatments, uncertainty remains about the substantial advantage of using these gloves over regular clean ones.
Their systematic review of randomised controlled trials assessed the impact of using sterile versus non-sterile gloves in minor surgical procedures across various healthcare settings.
The analysis, involving six trials and 6,000-plus patients, consistently showed comparable infection outcomes irrespective of the glove type used.
The study also highlighted the cost-effectiveness of non-sterile gloves, which are considerably cheaper to produce than their sterile counterparts.
Albarqouni stressed the significant cost disparity – sterile gloves could be around four times more expensive than non-sterile ones. This cost consideration becomes especially crucial in healthcare systems with limited resources, where allocating funds to proven effective treatments is imperative.
The research team underlined the importance of making informed choices to optimise outcomes while judiciously utilising available resources.
Additionally, they pointed out the environmental impact associated with the production and use of sterile gloves, a concern for healthcare systems striving for sustainability.
In essence, the study suggests that for simple wound repairs, using sterile gloves might not significantly outweigh the effectiveness of non-sterile gloves in preventing infections.
The analysis might prompt a reconsideration of traditional practices in wound care, especially in resource-constrained settings.
