What is the correct order of donning PPE before starting a procedure?

What is the correct order of donning PPE before starting a procedure?

• A. Gown/apron, mask if used, eye protection, then gloves.
• B. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection.
• C. Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection.
• D. Eye protection, gown, gloves, mask.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is to don PPE in an order that builds barrier protection from the outside in and minimizes touching clean areas with potentially contaminated surfaces. Start with the gown or apron to cover your clothing and skin, creating the first barrier. This prevents your clothes from picking up contaminants and reduces the risk of transferring them to the next items you put on. Next, if a mask is required, put it on after the gown so its outer surface isn’t contaminated by touching contaminated clothing. Then slip on eye protection to shield your eyes from splashes or splatter, doing this after the mask helps you avoid touching a contaminated mask while adjusting or handling eyewear. Finally, put on gloves last; they are the final barrier and should be the last item donned so you can handle the other PPE without contaminating your hands and so you can perform hand hygiene after removal. If a mask isn’t used for the procedure, you’d skip that step but still follow the order of gown, eye protection, then gloves. Putting any step out of this order can increase the chance of contaminating surfaces or exposing your eyes or respiratory tract.

The main idea here is to don PPE in an order that builds barrier protection from the outside in and minimizes touching clean areas with potentially contaminated surfaces. Start with the gown or apron to cover your clothing and skin, creating the first barrier. This prevents your clothes from picking up contaminants and reduces the risk of transferring them to the next items you put on. Next, if a mask is required, put it on after the gown so its outer surface isn’t contaminated by touching contaminated clothing. Then slip on eye protection to shield your eyes from splashes or splatter, doing this after the mask helps you avoid touching a contaminated mask while adjusting or handling eyewear. Finally, put on gloves last; they are the final barrier and should be the last item donned so you can handle the other PPE without contaminating your hands and so you can perform hand hygiene after removal.

If a mask isn’t used for the procedure, you’d skip that step but still follow the order of gown, eye protection, then gloves. Putting any step out of this order can increase the chance of contaminating surfaces or exposing your eyes or respiratory tract.