Gloves do not replace hand hygiene: WHO

Most of us never thought twice about hand gloves until the pandemic turned them into a must-have accessory right next to masks and hand sanitizers. But even now, gloves continue to play a quiet but powerful role in reducing infections, especially in medical, caregiving, and food-handling settings. Think of gloves as your first line of defense—blocking direct contact with germs, viruses, and nasty bacteria lurking on surfaces, body fluids, or even raw food. For healthcare workers, gloves aren't optional—they're lifesavers, literally.

Gloves have gone mainstream. From salons to street vendors, people are using them more consciously to avoid cross-contamination. The awareness that dirty hands spread everything from colds to E. coli has stuck with us post-COVID, and that’s a good thing. The popularity of gloves, especially disposable nitrile and latex ones, has skyrocketed—not just as protective gear but as a signal that someone’s taking hygiene seriously.

However, WHO has said that gloves do not replace hand hygiene. "While medical gloves serve a vital role in preventing transmission of infection, for example when there is risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time," the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said on World Hand Hygiene Day.

“Medical gloves can reduce the risk of infection, but they are never a replacement for hand hygiene,” said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Life Course. “On this World Hand Hygiene Day, let us double down on our commitment and action to improve hand hygiene in health care settings to ensure the safety of patients and health-care workers.”

"Additionally, overuse of gloves contributes to environmental degradation," the WHO report said. "An average university hospital in a developed country generates 1634 tons of health-care waste each year, which is equivalent to over 360 African elephants. Much of the waste could have been avoided if gloves were used properly and good hand hygiene was practiced. Most used gloves are considered infectious and require high-temperature incineration or specialized treatment, adding strain to already burdened waste management systems," it adds.

Gloves look like the ultimate hygiene hack
You slip them on, and boom—you feel safe from germs. And yes, gloves absolutely have their place. In hospitals, labs, and even your kitchen, they offer a solid layer of protection against infections. But here's the not-so-glamorous truth: gloves aren’t foolproof, and they’re definitely not problem-free. First off, just wearing gloves doesn’t make you immune to spreading germs. In fact, gloves can give a false sense of security. People often touch everything—phones, doorknobs, their face—with gloves on, thinking they’re protected. But if the gloves pick up germs and you rub your eye or scratch your nose? You’re still exposed. It’s like wearing muddy shoes and walking all over your clean floor.

Then there’s the issue of cross-contamination. Gloves can transfer bacteria just as easily as bare hands if you’re not careful. Ever seen someone wear the same pair of gloves for hours? Yup, not helping. And let’s not forget about allergies and skin irritation—especially from latex gloves. Plus, overusing gloves can actually damage the skin underneath, making it dry and more prone to tiny cuts, which opens the door to—you guessed it—infection.

Gloves are a helpful tool, but they’re not a substitute for good hygiene. Wash your hands. Change gloves often. Don’t touch your face. And remember—clean hands, not just covered hands, are your best defense.