Final answer:
Changing gloves while treating the same patient is necessary if they become contaminated to maintain sterile conditions. Hand hygiene, through handwashing and glove use, is critical in healthcare to prevent infections. Surgical scrub is an advanced form of handwashing to minimize pathogens during surgical procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that it is never necessary to change gloves while working on the same patient is incorrect. Health care professionals must maintain sterile conditions to prevent nosocomial infections. If gloves become contaminated during a procedure, they should be changed before continuing.
For example, if a health care worker touches a non-sterile surface or their gloves come into contact with bodily fluids, they should replace their gloves even if they continue to treat the same patient.
Proper hand hygiene practices are crucial in healthcare settings. Handwashing should occur not only before and after seeing each patient but also after glove removal and after potential contact with infectious agents.
The use of gloves does not replace the need for handwashing because gloves can have micro-perforations or become compromised, leading to potential contamination.
Moreover, preparations such as a surgical scrub are more rigorous routines of cleansing compared to standard handwashing, specifically because the goal is to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens into a patient's surgical wounds.