Abstract: Background: Universal gloving by healthcare workers (HCW) for all patient care activities (beyond isolation and standard precautions) has been proposed to reduce healthcare-associated infection transmission, but patient perceptions of this approach are unclear. We interviewed patients who experienced a universal gloving intervention by HCW within Veterans Affairs inpatient acute care units to understand their perceptions of universal gloving. Methods: We conducted interviews with 15 across five Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. We used a rapid qualitative inquiry approach to analyze interview transcripts and identified patient perceptions of universal gloving regarding patient knowledge, patient experience, and HCW practice. Results: Patients were highly supportive of healthcare workers’ use of universal gloving, noting potential benefits for infection prevention, patient and healthcare worker safety, and patient feelings of well-being and care. Patients also communicated support of universal gloving in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Universal gloving by healthcare workers may support patients’ feelings of safe and positive healthcare delivery. Conclusions: Patients’ positive perception of gloving may facilitate universal gloving as an infection prevention and control strategy.