After ten total hip replacements in which a double-glove technique was
used, 275 outer and inner gloves were tested for microbial contamination
and for holes. The operating rooms were equipped with specially designed
air-filtration mechanisms. The results indicated that the gloves that most
frequently were contaminated were the ones used exclusively for draping.
This finding suggests that using a separate pair of outer gloves only for
draping is a valuable technique during total hip replacement. Clinical
Relevance: Although the practice of using double gloves during a total
joint-replacement procedure is accepted widely, there is little evidence
that double-gloving actually decreases microbial contamination. The results
of this study indicate that changing outer gloves at appropriate times
during the procedure is indeed an important way to minimize
contamination.