Why is hand hygiene critical before donning sterile gloves?

• A. It is optional if gloves are sterile.
• B. It improves glove fit.
• C. It minimizes skin flora and reduces the risk of introducing microbes into the sterile field.
• D. It has no impact on sterility.

Answer: (C)

Hand hygiene before putting on sterile gloves is essential because it reduces the microbial load on the skin, especially the transient flora picked up from the environment. By lowering the number of bacteria on the hands, you decrease the chance of transferring microbes into the sterile field when you handle sterile instruments or wrap the sterile table, and you lessen the risk if a glove edge is touched or a glove breaches during handling. Glove barriers rely on clean hands to protect the patient; gloves themselves do not sterilize your skin. So, performing proper hand hygiene directly lowers the risk of introducing microbes into the sterile area and helps maintain overall sterility.