The ARHAI team (National IPC) has provided the statement below in regards to the use of gloves.
This should also be considered in the light of:
- There has been no change in guidance. The National Infection Protection Control Manual has been written with a focus an Acute settings and is mandatory within the NHS.
- It recognises that Social Care operate within a different environment and the manual is recognised as ‘best practice’
- There is also a broad appreciation that vinyl gloves have been used widely across the sector
- The UK 4 nations group has been undertaking a literature review, with input from NHS Scotland to potentially expand upon the different situations where different glove types would be appropriate, in all cases supported by a local risk assessment
- There is a recognition that the cost of nitrle is significantly higher than vinyl and a shift in the balance of use would have an impact
- Nevertheless until the outcome of the 4 nations work is available NSS has agreed to issue only nitrile gloves via the Hub system to ensure the higher standard is available across the sector, this will be reviewed in due course
As per National Infection Prevention and Control guidance vinyl gloves should not be used when the user anticipates risk of contact with blood and/or body fluids, when handling strong chemicals or cytotoxic materials. Where there is no anticipated risk Vinyl gloves are suitable for social contact, direct contact and contact with the environment.
The key message when using any gloves is to ensure proper hand hygiene is carried out after removing the gloves using either soap and water or ABHR.
