Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Reviewed Sep 27, 2026
  • Checked against CDC & WHO

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is gear worn to protect the wearer from infection or injury, such as gloves, gowns, masks, respirators and eye protection. In hand hygiene, the relevant PPE is exam or surgical gloves. Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene: clean your hands before putting gloves on and after taking them off, and change gloves between patients.

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