Which of the following represents the best practice regarding gloves when dealing with potential blood exposure?

Wearing disposable gloves at all times when dealing with potential blood exposure is considered best practice due to several important reasons. First and foremost, gloves act as a critical barrier between your skin and potentially infectious materials. This protection is essential not only for your personal safety but also for the safety of others you might come into contact with.

Another key aspect is the unpredictable nature of exposure. Pathogens can be present even when blood is not visibly seen; thus, wearing gloves consistently minimizes the risk of contact with these hidden dangers. Disposable gloves are designed to be single-use to prevent contamination, ensuring that once you’ve handled a situation with potential exposure, the gloves can be safely discarded.

In contrast, relying on home gloves, wearing them only when necessary, or wearing gloves only when blood is visible overlooks the principles of universal precautions. These principles advocate for treating all bodily fluids as though they are potentially infectious, thus reinforcing the need for consistent glove usage in any situation where blood exposure might occur.