Letters to the Editor
In Reply
We would like to thank Mr. Keßler-Rode for adding to our review.
Patient care is usually associated with the risk of working in a moist environment. Of course, from an occupational medicine perspective, working in a moist environment is a relevant risk factor for healthcare staff. The need to work in a moist environment results from various situations. In addition to the extensive use of medical examination gloves, washing hands with soap and water and direct contact of the skin with water are of particular importance.
This is also emphasized in the opinion of the Employer‘s Liability Insurance Association for Health Service and Welfare Care (BGW) on the topic (1). When comparing the harmful potential of working in a moist environment, an increased risk of developing hand eczema can be postulated for direct contact with water compared to washing with gloves (2).
In addition, nursing staff is at an increased risk due to direct contact with substances in the applied skin care products that may cause allergies (3).
The review article is intended to improve the use of medical examination gloves in the healthcare sector (4). Apart from sustainability and economic efficiency, the main objectives are patient safety and the protection of staff.
The use of gloves must be challenged and the basic rule of indication-appropriate wearing of gloves must be implemented.
The interdisciplinary exchange between the different professional groups can be particularly helpful in identifying and clarifying situations where the additional benefits of using gloves are uncertain.
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2024.0266
Corresponding author
PD Dr. med. Tobias Siegfried Kramer
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
tobias.kramer@charite.de
Conflict of interest
TSK reports lecture fees, meals and travel expenses from Hartmann Science Center as well as counseling fees from Infectopharm. He holds shares in ISG Intermed Service & Co KG.
| 1. | Stellungnahme der BGW zum indikationsgerechten Einsatz medizinischer Einmalhandschuhe im Gesundheitswesen – bgw-online (last accessed on 14 January 2025). |
| 2. | Jungbauer FH, van der Harst JJ, Groothoff JW, Coenraads PJ: Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol. Contact Dermatitis. 2004;51: 135–40 CrossRef MEDLINE |
| 3. | Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin:Häufigkeit von Hautsensibilisierungen durch spezifische Stoffe und in bestimmten Personengruppen. DOI:10.21934/baua:bericht20210122 (last accessed on 14 January 2025). |
| 4. | Kramer TS, Brodzinski A, Paul M, Drexler H, Scheithauer S, Geffers C: The use of single-use medical gloves in doctors’ practices and hospitals. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2024; 121: 715–24 VOLLTEXT |
