Changing gloves on request is complete BS and so disgusting its not even funny especially when it comes to medical devices and more importantly for a device that could transmit bacteria/viruses into the lungs. If they are refusing you should be calling for a supervisor or higher.

They should be changing them between inspections of bags, IDs, persons, etc; Screener's not changing gloves does nothing but transmit disease and infection from person to person. This disgusting use of disposable gloves which is probably why i ended up with a bad skin infection after transiting through LAX Term 4 back at the end of september from a some disgusting screener who probably hadnt changed his gloves all day and much worse when they handled my bag.

Those gloves were designed for one time use and to be then thrown away, not to be used as a second skin or for long periods of time (or get prune skin that stinks). I know this because Im a Paramedic and we use gloves as BSI (Body Substance Isolation) to protect from bodily fluids and I only use them on one patient/contact before changing them, sometimes even more if the situation requires it. Then even after that i wash my hands and forearms throughly with hot water, soap and/or anti bacterial gel.

I think it would interesting to do a study of check points by taking screeners gloves, swabbing floors/bins/counters and see what cultures up. I bet it would find everything from fecal coliform to MRSA or VRE (Drug resistant bacteria which can be worse then a STD) and it wouldnt surprise me if drug residue came up as well with the bacteria.