Conclusive studies performed by BioScience Laboratories of Bozeman, MT strongly suggest that the increased safety margin thought to be derived from wearing gloves to prevent the transmission of disease from contaminated hands may be grossly over-estimated.   In the majority of cases gloved hands demonstrated significant bacterial counts on the outside glove surface, suggesting that microbes were easily transferred from the hands through pre-existing punctures onto the outer surfaces of the gloves.  

 In a separate study, 80% of randomly selected vinyl food grade gloves were found to have pre-existing punctures and tears.  Both food-quality grade and hospital grade protective vinyl/latex gloves are ripped, torn, or punctured while personnel perform their duties.  Also, vinyl and latex gloves provide normal and contaminated microorganisms increased moisture, nutrients, and warmth to reproduce than bare hands alone.

In another BioScience Laboratories study, it was observed that without a prior hand wash, microbes increased their population numbers when gloves were worn.  In sharp contrast, when an effective hand wash was performed prior to gloving, no significant contaminant microbial growth was observed.  If gloves are worn to prevent microbial contamination , the gloving should be preceded by an effective hand wash.  The hand washing, not the glove barrier, appears to be the preventive factor .

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