Surgical gloves are sterile but your average run of the mill latex gloves are not sterile. Actually dialysis and related are aseptic not sterile. Aseptic means something is as clean as possible without being totally sterile. Gloves are worn to protect you. They wear them incenter because they are protecting themselves against all the many pts. they come in contact with. They are actually worn there because it’s and OSHA regulation and healthcare employers have to provide ppe’s (personal protective equipment devices) for staff. Disenfecting protects you much more incenter. It’s important at home too but not as important as incenter where you’re exposed to much more than you and your own surroundings. Marty, keep being obsessive; you don’t miss a trick and that’s one of the things I admire about you and the care you give your father! Forgot who, but the advise about the dry cracked hands was right on. The skin is the biggest organ of your body and it’s what protects you from infection, which can enter through the smallest crack in the skin so wear those gloves. Lin.