When should gloves be worn in healthcare settings?

Wearing gloves in healthcare settings is critical when there is a risk of exposure to blood and bodily fluids. This practice is part of standard precautions aimed at preventing the transmission of infectious agents. Gloves act as a barrier, protecting both healthcare workers and patients from potential pathogens that can be present in blood, saliva, urine, and other bodily fluids. Using gloves helps to minimize the risk of hand-to-hand transmission of infections and reduces the chance of cross-contamination during medical procedures.

Other scenarios mentioned, such as merely being in the presence of common colds, treating contaminated food, or solely during surgical procedures, do not necessitate glove use in the same way that exposure to bodily fluids does. While gloves may be used in some of these cases, especially if there is a risk of infection, the most universally applicable guideline focuses on protection against blood and bodily fluids as a priority for infection control.