Study Finds High Rate of Inappropriate Glove Use by LTC Certified Nursing Assistants

​Concerns about cross-contamination and infection in long-term care (LTC) facilities are addressed in one study that found certified nursing assistants (CNAs) failed to change gloves when necessary almost two-thirds of the time, according to an article published in the September 2017 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all healthcare personnel use Standard Precautions to avoid contact with infectious materials, which require personnel to wear personal protective equipment—especially gloves—in certain circumstances. Glove changes are required after touching blood or body fluids; after touching a potentially contaminated site before touching a clean site; after completing a patient task; and between patients. To assess adherence, the study randomly selected 74 CNAs performing toileting and perineal care at one LTC and found that CNAs wore gloves for 80% of the appropriate touch points and failed to change gloves when indicated 66.4% of the time.