What is the recommended sequence for donning PPE before patient contact in a dental operatory?

What is the recommended sequence for donning PPE before patient contact in a dental operatory?

• A. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves, and hand hygiene.
• B. Hand hygiene before any PPE and then proceeding to gowning.
• C. Perform hand hygiene, put on gown, mask, eye protection, and gloves.
• D. Put on gloves first, then gown, mask, eye protection.

Answer: (C)

Starting with clean hands before touching any protective items is essential because hands are the most likely route for transferring microbes. After hand hygiene, the gown goes on first to establish a barrier for your clothing and skin. Then the mask is placed to protect the airway, followed by eye protection to shield the eyes from splashes or droplets. Finally, donning gloves last provides a sterile barrier for the hands during patient care and helps prevent contaminating other PPE or surfaces while you dress. This clean-to-dirty sequence minimizes the chance of transferring microbes to the PPE and reduces cross-contamination. If gloves were put on first, or hand hygiene were delayed, contaminated surfaces or PPE could transfer microbes to the face, mucous membranes, or the gown, defeating the barrier effect.

Starting with clean hands before touching any protective items is essential because hands are the most likely route for transferring microbes. After hand hygiene, the gown goes on first to establish a barrier for your clothing and skin. Then the mask is placed to protect the airway, followed by eye protection to shield the eyes from splashes or droplets. Finally, donning gloves last provides a sterile barrier for the hands during patient care and helps prevent contaminating other PPE or surfaces while you dress. This clean-to-dirty sequence minimizes the chance of transferring microbes to the PPE and reduces cross-contamination. If gloves were put on first, or hand hygiene were delayed, contaminated surfaces or PPE could transfer microbes to the face, mucous membranes, or the gown, defeating the barrier effect.