Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX
Effective implementation and monitoring of personal protective equipment (PPE) in your practice to reduce infection risk involves several key steps:
- Risk assessment: Select PPE based on assessing the risk of microorganism transmission to patients and contamination of healthcare workers' skin and clothing by blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions NICE CG139.
- Education and training: Ensure all healthcare workers are educated and trained on infection prevention principles, correct PPE use, hand decontamination, and safe disposal of sharps NICE CG139.
- Availability of supplies: Maintain appropriate and accessible stocks of PPE, hand decontamination materials, and sharps containers wherever care is delivered NICE CG139.
- Correct use of PPE: Use gloves for invasive procedures, contact with sterile sites, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, or when exposure to blood or body fluids is likely; gloves must be single-use and changed between patients and procedures NICE CG139.
- Use of aprons and gowns: Wear disposable plastic aprons if clothing exposure to blood or body fluids is possible; use long-sleeved fluid-repellent gowns if extensive splashing is anticipated; these must be single-use and disposed of correctly NICE CG139.
- Face and eye protection: Use masks and eye protection when there is a risk of splashing of blood or body fluids to the face and eyes NICE CG139.
- Respiratory protection: Use particulate filter masks when clinically indicated NICE CG139.
- Monitoring and compliance: Regularly audit PPE availability, correct usage, and disposal practices; provide feedback and refresher training as needed to maintain standards NICE CG139.
- Patient and carer education: Inform patients and carers about hand hygiene and their role in supporting infection prevention NICE CG139.