Implementation of a Double-Gloving Technique to Reduce Anesthesia Workspace Contamination

Abstract

Problem: Anesthesia workspace contamination of oral pathogens poses a direct risk to all patients and healthcare providers. When an anesthesia provider manipulates a patient’s airway on induction, blood and secretions contaminate the gloves and become transmitted to the anesthesia workspace. Microorganisms spread through cross-contamination can lead to intraoperative infections and patient complications. Of the anesthesia providers surveyed at a large academic medical center, only 13.3% admitted to double-gloving on induction or removing the contaminated gloves prior to touching the anesthesia workspace. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce contamination by anesthesia providers with the use of a double-gloving on induction technique in Pod 2 over a 15-week period. Methods: Three anesthesia providers led a practice change to implement double-gloving on induction in Pod 2. Project strategies included in-person education (educational video and visual aids), collaboration (weekly site visits and change champions), and evaluation (data collection and analysis). Anesthesia providers collaborated with data collection by completing an anonymous QR code audit tool, evaluating the number of providers performing double-gloving on induction. Results: There were 81/761 (10.64%) surveys received, of the 81 total surveys completed, 88.89% (72) of anesthesia providers double-gloved on induction, 96.30% (78) sheathed the laryngoscope blade after use, and 97.53% (79) removed outer gloves prior to touching the anesthesia workspace. Conclusion: This quality improvement project successfully reduced contamination risks during induction among anesthesia providers in Pod 2. Following the implementation of a doublegloving on induction technique and various educational and collaborative strategies, compliance with double-gloving increased by 75.9% within the 15-week implementation period.