When putting on sterile gloves, which part of the glove may be touched by the ungloved hand?

When putting on sterile gloves, the inside surface of the glove is the area that may be touched by the ungloved hand. This is because the inside surface is designed to be in contact with the skin, while maintaining sterility. Touching the inside surface does not compromise the sterility of the glove, as it is the intended area for contact when the glove is worn.

In a sterile procedure, it is critical to avoid touching any part of the glove that will come in direct contact with the patient or sterile instruments. For example, touching the palmar surface or the outside of the glove would contaminate it because those surfaces will touch sterile areas during a procedure. The cuff of the glove should also remain untouched to avoid contamination when donning the gloves. Therefore, the safest practice is to touch only the inside surface, ensuring that sterility is maintained for effective and safe medical procedures.