What is the correct order for doffing personal protective equipment?

What is the correct order for doffing personal protective equipment?

• A. Gloves, gown, exit the room, perform hand hygiene, remove face shield/goggles, remove and discard facemask or respirator, perform hand hygiene.
• B. Gloves, gown, remove face shield/goggles, exit the room, remove and discard facemask or respirator, perform hand hygiene.
• C. Gown, gloves, exit the room, remove mask, perform hand hygiene, remove face shield/goggles.
• D. Gloves, mask, gown, exit the room, perform hand hygiene, remove face shield/goggles.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to minimize self-contamination by removing the most contaminated items first and cleaning hands at key points. Start with gloves because they are most likely to be contaminated; then remove the gown to take off the outer barrier; exit the room to avoid spreading contaminants; perform hand hygiene to clean the hands before handling the remaining PPE; then remove eye protection (face shield or goggles) and finally remove the mask or respirator; finish with another hand hygiene. This sequence keeps clean hands away from contaminated surfaces during the later steps and reduces the chance of transferring organisms to your mucous membranes.

The main idea is to minimize self-contamination by removing the most contaminated items first and cleaning hands at key points. Start with gloves because they are most likely to be contaminated; then remove the gown to take off the outer barrier; exit the room to avoid spreading contaminants; perform hand hygiene to clean the hands before handling the remaining PPE; then remove eye protection (face shield or goggles) and finally remove the mask or respirator; finish with another hand hygiene. This sequence keeps clean hands away from contaminated surfaces during the later steps and reduces the chance of transferring organisms to your mucous membranes.