Donning Doffing

Infection
Prevention
and Control
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE is a precautionary step to protect yourself and

the people around you.
PPE is specialized clothing or equipment worn for

protection against dangerous or infectious materials.
PPE prevents contact with an infectious agent by

creating a barrier between the potentially infectious
material and the public health practitioner.
Purpose of PPE
Health care practitioners should wear PPE to:
• Stop the spread of illness/infection
• Protect their health
• Protect their client's health
• Protect their family's health
• Protect the community's health
Standard Personal
Protection Equipment
includes
• Hairnet
• Goggles
• Surgical mask
• Isolation Gown
• Disposable Gloves
• Shoe Cover
Full PPE Includes:
• Hair Net
• Goggles
• N95 Mask
• Face Shield
• Isolation Gown
• Disposable Gloves
• Shoe Cover
•Enhanced PPE Includes
• Medical Cap
• Goggles
• N95 Mask
• Face Shield
• Medical Protecting
Gown
• Double Disposable
Gloves
• Shoe Cover
1. Prior to performing the procedure, introduce self and
verify the client’s identity using agency protocol.
Explain to the client what you are going to do, why it is
necessary, and how to participate.
2. Perform hand hygiene.
3. Apply a clean gown.
• Pick up a clean gown, and allow it to unfold in front of
Procedure you without allowing it to touch any area soiled with
body substances.
• Slide the arms and the hands through the sleeves.
• Fasten the ties at the neck to keep the gown in place.
• Overlap the gown at the back as much as possible, and
fasten the waist ties or belt. Rationale: Overlapping
securely covers the uniform at the back. Waist ties keep
the gown from falling away from the body, which can
cause inadvertent soiling of the uniform.
4. Apply the face mask.
• Locate the top edge of the mask. The mask usually
has a narrow metal strip along the edge.
• Hold the mask by the top two strings or loops.
• Place the upper edge of the mask over the bridge of
the nose, and tie the upper ties at the back of the
head or secure the loops around the ears. If glasses
are worn, fit the upper edge of the mask under the
Procedure glasses. Rationale: With the edge of the mask
under the glasses, clouding of the glasses is less
likely to occur.
• Secure the lower edge of the mask under the chin,
and tie the lower ties at the nape of the neck.
Rationale: To be effective, a mask must cover both
the nose and the mouth, because air moves in and
out of both.
• If the mask has a metal strip, adjust this firmly
over the bridge of the nose. Rationale: A secure
fit prevents both the escape and the inhalation of
microorganisms around the edges of the mask
and the fogging of eyeglasses.
• • Wear the mask only once, and do not wear any
mask longer than the manufacturer recommends
Procedure or once it becomes wet. Rationale: A mask
should be used only once because it becomes
ineffective when moist from exhaled breath.
• Do not leave a used face mask hanging around
the neck.
• The Practice Guidelines provide further
instructions on using a face mask.
5. Apply protective eyewear if it is not combined
with the face mask.
6. Apply clean gloves.
Procedure • No special technique is required.

• If wearing a gown, pull the gloves up to cover
the cuffs of the gown. If not wearing a gown,
pull the gloves up to cover the wrists.
7. To remove soiled PPE, remove the gloves first
since they are the most soiled.
• If wearing a gown that is tied at the waist in front,
undo the ties before removing gloves.
• Remove the first glove by grasping it on its palmar
surface, taking care to touch only glove to glove.
Rationale: This keeps the soiled parts of the used
gloves from touching the skin of the wrist or hand.
Procedure • Pull the first glove completely off by inverting or
rolling the glove inside out.
• Continue to hold the inverted removed glove by
the fingers of the remaining gloved hand. Place
the first two fingers of the bare hand inside the
cuff of the second glove. Rationale: Touching the
outside of the second soiled glove with the bare
hand is avoided.
• Pull the second glove off to the fingers by
turning it inside out. This pulls the first glove
inside the second glove. Rationale: The soiled
part of the glove is folded to the inside to reduce
the chance of transferring any microorganisms
by direct contact.
• Using the bare hand, continue to remove the
Procedure gloves, which are now inside out, and dispose of

them in the refuse container.
8. Perform hand hygiene. Rationale: Contact with
microorganisms may occur while removing PPE.
9. Remove protective eyewear and dispose of
properly or place in the appropriate receptacle for
cleaning.
10. Remove the gown when preparing to leave the
room.
• Avoid touching soiled parts on the outside of the
gown, if possible. Rationale: The top part of the
gown may be soiled, for example, if you have
been holding an infant with a respiratory
Procedure infection.
• Grasp the gown along the inside of the neck and
pull down over the shoulders. Do not shake the
gown.
• Roll up the gown with the soiled part inside, and
discard it in the appropriate container
11. Remove the mask.
• Remove the mask at the doorway to the client’s
room. If using a respirator mask, remove it after
leaving the room and closing the door.
• If using a mask with strings, first untie the lower
strings of the mask. Rationale: This prevents the
top part of the mask from falling onto the chest.
• Untie the top strings and, while holding the ties
Procedure securely, remove the mask from the face. If side
loops are present, lift the side loops up and away
from the ears and face. Do not touch the front of
the mask. Rationale: The front of the mask
through which the nurse has been breathing is
contaminated.
• Discard a disposable mask in the waste container.
• Perform proper hand hygiene again.

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Infection

PPE is a precautionary step to protect yourself and

PPE is specialized clothing or equipment worn for

PPE prevents contact with an infectious agent by

Procedure • No special technique is required.

Procedure gloves, which are now inside out, and dispose of

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