What should I do if a sterile glove rips during a procedure?
Speak up! Patient safety is the number one priority.
Step out from the surgery. Remove your gloves aseptically. Ask for a fresh pair of gloves and put it on at the back table making sure you don’t contaminate the table and or your hands.
You now have a contaminated field. You discard gloves and reglove. Replace any contaminated supplies, etc in the sterile field.
If a sterile glove rips during a procedure, it compromises sterility and must be addressed immediately to prevent contamination. Here’s what to do:
1. Stop and Notify . Immediately inform the surgical team of the situation. Take care to avoid touching sterile areas with the compromised glove.
2. Remove the Torn Glove . Step back or turn away from the sterile field. Remove the torn glove without contaminating your other hand or the sterile environment.
3. Re-Scrub (if Necessary) . If your skin or any non-sterile surface touched the sterile field, you may need to re-scrub entirely.
If the tear is minor and your hand has not been exposed, proceed to the next step.
4. Reglove . Have a member of the circulating staff provide you with a new sterile glove. If double-gloved, remove the outer glove and replace it with a new one.
5.Resume Procedure: Ensure the integrity of the sterile field before continuing. Verify no breaches occurred that could compromise patient safety.