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.