PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
FACTSHEET
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to a
variety of barriers, used alone or in combination,
to protect the eyes, nose, mouth, skin and clothing
from contact with blood and other body
substances which may contain infectious agents.
PPE is used as part of standard precautions and
includes gloves, protective eyewear, face shields,
masks, aprons and gowns.
PPE plays an important role in preventing the
spread of health care associated infections from
patient to patient. PPE plays an equally important
role in preventing health care workers from being
exposed to another person’s blood and other body
substances and from acquiring infections.
APPROPRIATE USE OF PPE
Although PPE is essential in today’s health care
environment, health care workers need to be
educated to use it appropriately and only when
necessary. PPE accounts for a large part of a
health care facility’s budget and money is wasted
when PPE is used unnecessarily. For example,
gloves, mask and gown are not required for
routine bed-making for patients without a
diagnosed infection which is spread by contact or
where there is low risk of contamination. Hand
hygiene is the only standard precaution required
for most bed-making.
GLOVES
Gloves can protect the health care worker’s hands
from exposure to infectious agents. As part of
standard precautions, they are used to prevent
contamination of health care workers’ hands when
anticipating direct contact with blood or other body
substances, mucous membranes, non-intact skin
and other potentially infectious material.
be significantly reduced due to the ‘cleaning’
effect the material of the glove has on the
instrument as it passes through the glove. Gloves
may also reduce the injured person’s contact time
with the source’s blood.
Gloves should be changed between different
procedures on the same patient, and between
patients.
Hand hygiene should be performed before putting
on gloves and after removal of gloves in case
infectious agents have penetrated through
unrecognised tears or have contaminated the
hands during removal.
Prolonged and indiscriminate use of gloves should
be avoided as they may cause adverse reactions
and skin sensitivity.
In countries with limited resources and an
inadequate supply of gloves, used sterile gloves
may be washed, sterilised and reused for hygiene
purposes only – not for invasive procedures.
MASKS
The nose and mouth are portals of entry for
infectious agents. Masks act as a physical barrier
to prevent the nose and mouth from becoming
contaminated with splashes of blood and other
body substances
Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are the most common type of
mask used to protect the health care worker from
contamination and are single-use items that cover
the nose and mouth. Surgical masks also provide
some protection from respiratory secretions
generated by patients and are worn in conjunction
with eye protection when caring for patients on
droplet precautions.
Although gloves do not prevent needlestick or
sharps injuries, studies have demonstrated that
the transmission of blood-borne pathogens may
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Considerations when using a surgical mask
include:
• Masks should be changed when they become
soiled or wet.
• Masks should never be reapplied after they
have been removed.
• Masks should not be left dangling around the
neck.
• The front of a mask should not be touched
while wearing it.
• Masks should only be worn if there is a risk of
spraying of blood or body substances or when
the patient or the health care worker has a
cough or a diagnosed infection which can be
spread by the airborne or droplet route. They
should not be worn routinely for all patient care.
• Hand hygiene should be performed after
touching or discarding a used mask.
Gowns and aprons must be changed between
patients.
Clinical or laboratory coats or jackets worn over
personal clothing for comfort and/or purposes of
identity are not considered to be PPE.
Aprons and gowns should be removed in a
manner that prevents contamination of the
wearer’s clothing or skin. The outer ‘contaminated’
side of the gown should be turned inward and
rolled into a bundle and then discarded into a
designated container for waste linen to contain
contamination.
In countries with limited resources where
impermeable aprons or gowns are unavailable, a
large plastic bag can be cut open and worn under
a cotton apron or gown to protect clothing.
P2 or N95 Masks
These masks provide health care workers with
greater protection against smaller respiratory
pathogens and are used when caring for patients
on airborne precautions. Health care workers
needed to be educated in ‘fit checking’ when
using P2 or N95 masks.
EYE PROTECTION
Eye protection reduces the risk of health care
workers from splashes or sprays of blood and
other body substances and is an important part of
standard precautions. Eye protection should
always be worn when performing a procedure
where there is a potential for splashing or
spraying to occur.
Eye protection can be in the form of goggles,
safety glasses, or face shields. Personal
eyeglasses and contact lenses provide some but
not complete protection and are not considered
adequate eye protection.
Reusable eye protection should be cleaned
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
APRONS AND GOWNS
Impermeable aprons and gowns are protective
clothing that can be worn by health care workers
when close contact with a patient, materials or
equipment may lead to contamination of skin,
uniforms, or other clothing with potentially
infectious agents, or when there is a risk that
clothing may become contaminated with blood or
other body substances.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)