What should a surgical technologist do if she is told her gloves are contaminated while assisting with draping?

When a surgical technologist is informed that her gloves are contaminated while assisting with draping, the appropriate response is to step away from the sterile field and re-glove. This action is crucial because it maintains the integrity of the sterile environment. Once gloves are considered contaminated, they can no longer effectively prevent the transmission of pathogens, which is vital for patient safety and the prevention of infection during surgery.

Stepping away from the field allows the surgical technologist to safely and thoroughly remove the contaminated gloves without risking further contamination of sterile items or the surgical area. After stepping away, the technologist can then perform hand hygiene again and put on new sterile gloves, ensuring that she is prepared to return to the field in a sterile manner.

Maintaining the sterile environment is paramount in a surgical setting, and re-gloving after stepping back ensures that the surgical technologist can continue to assist without compromising safety.