The Impact of Disinfecting Non-Sterile Disposable Gloves on the Level of Microbiological Contamination in Clinical Practice

Gloves, used in conjunction with hand hygiene, are designed to protect healthcare personnel from direct contact with blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials, which is critical for reducing the transmission of microorganisms. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze available studies on the disinfection of disposable, non-sterile gloves as a method of reducing the risk of microbial contamination in everyday clinical practice. A systematic review was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025. A total of 317 records were initially retrieved from the five databases (EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid). Interventions included alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHR), sodium hypochlorite wipes or solutions, quaternary ammonium wipes, and sporicidal ethanol. Across all studies, glove disinfection consistently reduced bacterial, viral, and spore contamination. Hypochlorite-based agents and sporicidal ethanol demonstrated the highest efficacy against spore-forming organisms such as Clostridioides difficile. Alcohol-based hand rubs were effective against bacteria and enveloped viruses but showed reduced activity against non-enveloped viruses and spores. Conclusions from studies conducted in both laboratory and clinical conditions clearly emphasize the key role of hand hygiene after removing gloves, even when using multiple layers of protection, while also indicating that glove disinfection can be a useful supplement to protection against particularly virulent pathogens (EVD, CDI).