Which infection control practice includes wearing gloves?

The practice that includes wearing gloves is best represented by standard precautions. Standard precautions are designed to protect healthcare workers and patients from the spread of infections and are based on the assumption that blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions of all patients may contain transmissible infectious agents.

Wearing gloves is a fundamental component of standard precautions, as they serve as a barrier to prevent direct contact with blood and body fluids, thereby reducing the risk of infection transmission. Gloves should be worn during any procedures that are likely to expose the healthcare worker to these fluids, recognizing that the risk exists regardless of the patient's known status.

While isolation precautions focus on specific conditions and may include additional measures beyond glove use, standard precautions apply universally in healthcare settings. They cover a broader scope of practices that enhance overall infection control, including hand hygiene, the safe use of needles, and the use of personal protective equipment like gloves.

Airborne precautions specifically relate to highly contagious diseases that are transmitted through the air and usually involve N95 respirators rather than gloves, while contact precautions focus on preventing transmission of infections through direct or indirect contact.