What is the first step to take immediately after removing gloves?

After removing gloves, washing or sanitizing hands is the first critical step to ensure proper infection control. Gloves are designed to create a barrier between the healthcare provider and potential pathogens. However, once they are removed, hands remain at risk for contamination due to surfaces or materials that may have come into contact with the gloves during the procedure.

By washing or sanitizing hands immediately after glove removal, you significantly reduce the risk of transferring any contaminants to other surfaces or to patients. This practice adheres to infection control protocols, which emphasize the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections in a healthcare setting.

Choosing to log the procedure in patient records, putting on a fresh pair of gloves, or discarding gloves in regular trash does not address the immediate need for hand hygiene following glove use, thereby potentially compromising infection control efforts.