What is the main advantage of the open technique in self-gloving?

• A. It is faster than closed techniques
• B. It reduces contamination risk
• C. It requires fewer personnel
• D. It is more comfortable for the surgeon

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to keep the gloved hands as clean as possible during donning to protect the sterile field. In the open self-gloving technique, the gloves are donned in a way that minimizes contact between bare skin and the outside (sterile) surfaces of the gloves. By handling the gloves so that only the inside surfaces touch the skin and using the other hand to help slide the next glove on, the outside of the glove is kept more free of potential contaminants. This reduces the chance that microbes from the skin or nearby nonsterile surfaces will transfer to the glove exterior and then into the sterile field, which is the primary safety advantage. The other factors—speed, number of staff, or comfort—are variable and not the central reason this method is favored.