Why this matters: Personal protective equipment (PPE) prevents exposure to blood, body fluids, droplets and contaminated materials. PPE works only when the correct item is selected for the task, put on and removed safely, and used together with hand hygiene and other Standard Precautions.
- Define PPE and explain its place in infection prevention.
- Select gloves, apron/gown, mask, goggles, face shield and head cover according to exposure risk.
- Describe safe donning and doffing and explain why the order matters.
- Recognise common PPE errors and respond to contamination or breach.
Standard Precautions are used for all patients because infectious status is not always known. PPE is required when there is anticipated contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin or mucous membranes. Use the minimum PPE that gives adequate protection; unnecessary PPE wastes supplies and can increase self-contamination during removal.
| Item | What it protects | Use when | Key caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloves | Hands | Contact with blood/body fluids, mucosa, non-intact skin or contaminated items is anticipated. | Change between patients and between dirty/clean tasks; hand hygiene before and after. |
| Apron or gown | Uniform, skin and clothing | Splash, spray or direct contact with fluids/contaminated surfaces is likely. | Remove before leaving the care area; do not wear from patient to patient. |
| Medical mask | Nose and mouth | Droplet exposure, respiratory symptoms/source control or procedures according to policy. | Fit snugly; do not pull under the chin or touch front repeatedly. |
| Respirator | Respiratory tract | Airborne precautions or aerosol-generating risk, according to facility guidance. | Requires correct fit/seal and local policy; not interchangeable with any mask. |
| Goggles / face shield | Eyes; face shield also covers face | Splash or spray to eyes/nose/mouth may occur. | Prescription spectacles are not adequate splash protection. |
| Head cap | Hair/scalp from contamination | Procedures/areas where required by local protocol and asepsis practice. | Do not use as a substitute for hair hygiene or other PPE. |
Gloves protect hands from direct contact; they do not make hands clean. Choose the correct type and size, inspect for tears, and change immediately if damaged or heavily contaminated. Perform hand hygiene before putting them on and after removing them. Gloves must never be washed or reused if designed for single use.
- Use clean examination gloves for routine body-fluid/contact risk.
- Use sterile gloves for procedures requiring asepsis, according to protocol.
- Use heavier utility gloves for environmental cleaning and waste handling where supplied.
- Remove gloves before touching clean surfaces, notes, phones, door handles or another patient.
A plastic apron protects the front of uniform/clothing from limited fluid contact. A fluid-resistant gown gives wider body and arm protection where splash or extensive contamination is likely. Secure ties, ensure coverage and remove carefully so contaminated outside surfaces do not touch clothes or skin.
Use medical masks for source control and droplet-risk situations as guided locally. A face shield protects the full face from splash but may be used with a mask when mouth/nose protection is needed. Goggles protect eyes and should fit securely. For airborne risk, use the specified respirator and follow facility fit and seal requirements.
| Task | Likely exposure | Appropriate protection |
|---|---|---|
| Taking blood / managing an IV | Blood, needlestick splash | Gloves; apron and eye/face protection if splash likely; sharps safety always. |
| Wound dressing with heavy drainage | Contact and splash | Gloves, apron/gown and mask plus eye/face protection if splashing expected. |
| Cleaning a blood spill | Fluid and chemical exposure | Utility gloves, apron/gown; mask/eye protection if splash risk; follow spill procedure. |
| Coughing patient at close range | Respiratory droplets | Medical mask and eye protection where indicated; source control and hand hygiene. |
| Procedure requiring sterile field | Contamination of invasive site | Hand hygiene, sterile gloves and other PPE selected for splash risk. |
Follow the facility’s specific sequence, especially for isolation procedures. The general principle is: put on clean items before entering the risk area and remove the most contaminated items first without touching contaminated outer surfaces.
- Donning: hand hygiene → gown/apron → mask or respirator → goggles/face shield → gloves over gown cuffs where a gown is used.
- Doffing: gloves → hand hygiene → goggles/face shield → gown/apron → mask/respirator by straps only → hand hygiene.
- Remove PPE at the designated point; dispose or send reusable equipment for reprocessing according to policy.
- Wearing the same gloves from one task/patient to another: spreads organisms by indirect contact.
- Touching a phone, pen or face with contaminated gloves: transfers organisms to a new surface or portal of entry.
- Removing a mask by the front: contaminates hands and face.
- Using PPE without hand hygiene: misses the most basic control for contact transmission.
- Using a loose or damaged mask/gown: leaves gaps in protection.
- Overusing gloves/PPE: may reduce hand hygiene and creates more waste; selection must be risk-based.
Scenario 1: Dressing a draining wound. Assess splash/contact risk. Prepare supplies first, perform hand hygiene, use gloves and apron, add eye/face protection if splash likely, avoid contaminating clean supplies, then remove PPE safely and document the wound.
Scenario 2: Blood splashes toward the face during an emergency procedure. Eye/face protection is required because mucous membranes are portals of entry. If exposure occurs, flush as directed, report immediately and follow the occupational-exposure protocol.
Scenario 3: Gloves are torn while cleaning. Stop the task, remove gloves safely, hand hygiene, put on a new pair and continue only when safe. Never tape a torn glove or continue with damaged PPE.
- Assess exposure risk before every procedure.
- Explain PPE to patients without causing stigma or fear.
- Ensure supplies, sizes and disposal bins are accessible.
- Model correct use and challenge unsafe practice respectfully.
- Report shortages, damaged PPE and occupational exposures promptly.
- Combine PPE with hand hygiene, aseptic technique, cleaning and safe waste management.
- Why do gloves not replace hand hygiene?
- Select PPE for a wound dressing with risk of blood splash and explain each choice.
- State a safe sequence for removing PPE and explain why gloves are removed early.
- Differentiate a medical mask, face shield and respirator.
- List five common PPE mistakes and the risk each creates.