To disinfect or not to disinfect? Conscious use of medical dis approved for use on the hands and are well tolerated by the skin. According to the aforementioned standards, no safetyrelated impairments should be expected when the products are used properly. As material changes and permeation cannot be universally assessed, they depend on the specific type of glove and HDM used [7]. The gloves and HDM tested by HARTMANN and BODE Chemie, a company of the HARTMANN GROUP, are highly compatible with each other. In individual cases, disinfecting disposable medical gloves may be an alternative, but this does not replace changing gloves in the event of visible contamination or carrying out hand hygiene procedures [5]. The sustainable use of medical disposable gloves As disposable medical products significantly impact resource consumption in the healthcare sector, the use of disposable medical gloves must be considered from both medical and environmental perspectives. This analysis is an essential component of an environmentally responsible hygiene concept in hospitals and care facilities [8]. In practice, however, healthcare professionals are not always familiar with the specific circumstances in which medical disposables gloves should be used, and sometimes use them in situations where they are unnecessary. As rational use can reduce environmental impact, KRINKO published a commentary on this topic at the end of 2024. This commentary clearly lists situations with and without indications for glove use (e.g. contact with blood, mucous membranes or excretions, versus vaccination or blood sugar measurement) [9]. Hand disinfection (HD) is one of the most important measures for preventing healthcare-associated infections and is generally understood to refer to the disinfection of bare hands [1]. However, the importance of disinfecting gloved hands (glove disinfection) has also been a topic of discussion for several years. While this was initially a controversial topic, in German hospitals evidencebased pragmatism is increasingly gaining acceptance. Emergency care Testing of medical gloves in accordance with EN 455-2 (tear strength) Glove disinfection: what are the pros and cons? In emergency care in particular, situations may arise in which medical professionals do not have time to change gloves or disinfect their hands for a sufficiently long period, for example when resuscitating patients, provided that conditions are not ideal [2–4]. Frequent glove changes can also disrupt workflows to such an extent that processes are prolonged. In exceptional cases such as these, glove disinfection may be justified, as recommended by the German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in its guidance on hand hygiene in healthcare facilities [5]. Nevertheless, users should be aware that this usually voids the manufacturer‘s liability and gives rise to personal responsibility, with all the legal consequences that entails [6]. Therefore, clinics should always carry out an internal risk assessment before recommending glove disinfection as an effective measure in exceptional cases. Are disposable gloves compatible with hand disinfectants? HARTMANN‘s product range includes both medical disposable gloves and hand disinfectants (HD). To support users in carrying out the necessary risk assessment, the company conducted tests on the compatibility of disposable gloves with HD. Peha-soft® nitrile fino examination gloves were conditioned up to five times with 3 ml of ethanol- and propanolbased HD for 30 seconds using the self-administered rubbing method. The gloves were then tested in accordance with EN 455-2 (tear strength) and EN 16523-1 (permeation). The tear strength complied with the standards. HD permeation through the gloves is not a critical issue, as our HDs are ? PRACTICE 28
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