Temporal Effects on Intra-operative Bacterial Contamination of Surgical Gloves in Non-Infection Orthopaedic Trauma Cases

The authors aimed to investigate the temporal dynamics of bacterial contamination on surgical gloves during non-infection orthopedic trauma surgeries and its potential contribution to surgical site infections (SSIs). They found that 25.4% of sampled gloves showed bacterial growth, with contamination rates increasing over time, particularly after implant placement and in pelvic procedures. The study suggests that implementing routine glove changes after specific time intervals could be an effective strategy to reduce the risk of SSIs.