In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recently published Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care, the CDC provides the following seven key recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in ambulatory care settings.
1. Facilities should assure that sufficient and appropriate PPE is available and readily accessible to healthcare personnel (HCP)
2. Educate all HCP on proper selection and use of PPE.
3. Remove and discard PPE before leaving the patient's room or area.
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4. Wear gloves for potential contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin or contaminated equipment.
- Do not wear the same pair of gloves for the care of more than one patient.
- Do not wash gloves for the purpose of reuse.
- Perform hand hygiene immediately after removing gloves.
5. Wear a gown to protect skin and clothing during procedures or activities where contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated.
- Do not wear the same gown for the care of more than one patient.
6. Wear mouth, nose and eye protection during procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood or other body fluids.
7. Wear a surgical mask when placing a catheter or injecting material into epidural or subdural space.
Source: CDC
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