Tech in Surgery Prep / Unit 24 TSC 583 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Changing Gloves and Instruments: What the Evidence Says
The idea
Many teams change gloves and instruments before closing a contaminated wound, and the WHO guideline is candid about the evidence for this.
In practice
Learn what the guideline says, in order. First, it found too little evidence to recommend for or against changing gloves during an operation, or double gloving, for the purpose of preventing surgical site infection. Second, it found no studies comparing wound closure with fresh instruments against closure with previously used ones in contaminated surgery. Third, it notes that changing instruments before closing contaminated cases, particularly after bowel surgery, is common practice and seems logical, even without evidence. Fourth, it is firm on one point: gloves are single-use and are never decontaminated for reuse. Fifth, the facility's policy and the surgeon decide the practice for each case.
Where people slip
The absence of evidence is not evidence of harm. When the surgeon or facility calls for a closing set and fresh gloves, the scrub person prepares them without debate; good practice often runs ahead of the studies.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Tech in Surgery Prep