What is the final step after doffing PPE to prevent contamination?

What is the final step after doffing PPE to prevent contamination?

• A. Perform hand hygiene.
• B. Re-don PPE
• C. Wash clothes
• D. Ignore contamination risk

Answer: (A)

After removing PPE, the last and most important step is hand hygiene. This is done right away because your hands may have touched contaminated surfaces or PPE during removal, and sanitizing or washing them prevents transferring any germs to your face, mucous membranes, or others. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if hands aren’t visibly dirty, rubbing all surfaces until they’re dry. If hands are visibly dirty, wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The other options aren’t the final safety action: re-donning PPE would be for continuing exposure, washing clothes doesn’t address hand contamination, and ignoring contamination risk is unsafe.

After removing PPE, the last and most important step is hand hygiene. This is done right away because your hands may have touched contaminated surfaces or PPE during removal, and sanitizing or washing them prevents transferring any germs to your face, mucous membranes, or others. Use an alcohol-based hand rub if hands aren’t visibly dirty, rubbing all surfaces until they’re dry. If hands are visibly dirty, wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The other options aren’t the final safety action: re-donning PPE would be for continuing exposure, washing clothes doesn’t address hand contamination, and ignoring contamination risk is unsafe.