When administering certain medications, gloves should be worn for which type of medication?

When administering vaginal and rectal medications, it is essential to wear gloves to maintain a sterile environment and prevent contamination. These routes of administration involve contact with mucous membranes, which are more sensitive and susceptible to infection or irritation. Wearing gloves not only protects the medication from contamination by skin flora but also maintains the caregiver's hygiene and protects them from potential exposure to bodily fluids.

In contrast, while oral medications do require a level of cleanliness, they do not necessitate the use of gloves because they do not involve direct contact with mucous membranes. Topical medications may often be applied without gloves if the skin has intact integrity, although gloves may still be advisable in specific clinical contexts. Inhalable medications typically are administered without the need for gloves, as they are delivered via inhalers or nebulizers and do not generally involve direct physical contact with the patient or mucus membranes.