Even when they don protective gear correctly, nearly half of medical workers contaminate their skin or clothing when removing gowns and especially gloves, a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found.
The study, led by researchers from the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, found the rate of self-contamination was much likelier when workers used improper technique to remove personal protective equipment (PPE)–70 percent compared with 30 percent for those who followed proper technique. The hands were most commonly contaminated during glove removal, and the neck during gown removal.
The good news: After watching a short video on proper technique and participating in a demonstration using fluorescent lotion to show “contamination,” the rate of self-contamination fell by 68 percent. That rate was sustained three months later with no additional training, the study found.
Source: FierceHealthcare