What is the main purpose of wearing gloves in a healthcare setting?

Wearing gloves in a healthcare setting primarily serves to prevent direct contact with blood or bodily fluids. This practice is crucial for maintaining both patient and healthcare worker safety. By wearing gloves, healthcare professionals create a barrier that helps reduce the risk of transmitting infections, as many pathogens can be present in blood and other bodily fluids. This is especially critical in situations where there is a risk of exposure to potentially infectious materials.

The role of gloves extends beyond just personal cleanliness; it emphasizes the importance of infection control practices. This protective measure is a key component of standard precautions, which are designed to prevent the spread of infections within healthcare environments.

While maintaining a sterile environment is important, especially in surgical settings, the primary purpose of gloves in everyday patient care is about preventing direct contact with contaminants. Additionally, gloves do not ensure that staff doesn't get dirty, nor do they imply avoidance of patient interactions. Instead, gloves are an integral part of the care process to protect both caregivers and patients.