A scrub person drops a sterile glove cuff below the level of the sterile field while donning sterile gloves. What should the scrub person do?
- A.Continue donning the glove as the outer surface has not been touched by bare hands
- B.Discard the glove and obtain a new sterile pair before proceeding
- C.Fold the cuff back up, treat the inside as sterile, and continue
- D.Use the contaminated glove for the non-dominant hand only
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer
B. Discard the glove and obtain a new sterile pair before proceeding
Rationale
B is correct: Once any part of a sterile glove falls below the level of the sterile field or contacts a non-sterile surface, the glove is considered contaminated. The entire glove must be discarded and a new sterile pair opened. There is no safe way to recover a dropped sterile glove. A is incorrect: The level principle applies, below the waist/sterile field level is contaminated regardless of hand contact. C is incorrect: Once a glove cuff has fallen, it cannot be considered sterile by folding; the contamination cannot be reversed. D is incorrect: Using a contaminated glove on either hand introduces contamination to the sterile field.
Key concepts