When should a healthcare provider use gloves during patient care?

Using gloves during patient care is essential for maintaining safety and infection control, particularly when there is a potential contact with blood or bodily fluids. Gloves serve as a protective barrier that prevents the transmission of pathogens from the healthcare provider to the patient and vice versa. This practice is crucial in situations involving procedures that could result in exposure to such fluids, as it significantly reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

While it is important to recognize other scenarios where gloves might be used, such as when there is a risk of infection or in certain food handling situations, the specific context of potential contact with blood or bodily fluids necessitates glove use as a standard precaution. This ensures that both the healthcare provider and the patient are protected, and it aligns with established protocols for infection prevention in clinical settings.