What is required to sanitize gloves during sterile compounding?

To effectively sanitize gloves during sterile compounding, using a 70% alcohol solution is the standard practice. This concentration is optimal because it has been shown to be the most effective in killing a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. The alcohol works by denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, ensuring that the gloves are adequately free of contaminants before they are used in a sterile environment.

Using a higher concentration of alcohol, such as 90% or greater, is less effective because it evaporates too quickly to allow sufficient contact time for the alcohol to penetrate and destroy bacteria and viruses effectively. On the other hand, options like chlorhexidine and sodium hypochlorite, while effective antiseptics, are not typically recommended for sanitizing gloves in the context of sterile compounding, as they may leave residues that could compromise sterility or affect the integrity of the gloves. An alcohol-based hand scrub is designed for skin sanitation and is not appropriate for glove sanitization.

Therefore, the use of 70% alcohol is the most appropriate and effective method for sanitizing gloves in a sterile compounding setting.