Which step should be completed before leaving the room when caring for a patient on contact precautions?

Which step should be completed before leaving the room when caring for a patient on contact precautions?

• A. Remove gloves and gown, and perform hand hygiene.
• B. Remove gown only; do not wash hands.
• C. Remove gloves only; leave PPE on.
• D. Leave the room while still wearing PPE.

Answer: (A)

When caring for a patient on contact precautions, you must remove all contaminated PPE and clean your hands before leaving the room to prevent carrying organisms into other areas. The typical doffing sequence starts with removing gloves, then performing hand hygiene, followed by removing the gown and doing hand hygiene again. This approach minimizes the chance that pathogens cling to your hands or clothing and spread to surfaces outside the room. Removing only part of the PPE, or leaving the room still wearing PPE, would keep you and others at risk of contamination.

When caring for a patient on contact precautions, you must remove all contaminated PPE and clean your hands before leaving the room to prevent carrying organisms into other areas. The typical doffing sequence starts with removing gloves, then performing hand hygiene, followed by removing the gown and doing hand hygiene again. This approach minimizes the chance that pathogens cling to your hands or clothing and spread to surfaces outside the room. Removing only part of the PPE, or leaving the room still wearing PPE, would keep you and others at risk of contamination.