I do wear gloves. I have a good friend who is a nurse and I asked her about what her thoughts were. She basically told me that that there are diseases in poop that can spread to you. She said no hospital personnel would change a diaper (or bedpan) without gloves on because of that. So I wear them and I still wash my hands just as much. I can't wrap my head around NOT hand washing especially after a poop even though I have gloves on.