Infection Control · patient case question
In which order should personal protective equipment be DONNED?
Patient case: The Assistant Who Reported the Office
Patient: Not applicable — practice scenario
Chief Complaint: A dental assistant has raised concerns about safety practices in the office.
Background: She reports that personal protective equipment is inconsistently available, that sharps are not always placed in the puncture-resistant container, and that she feels at risk at work. She was never offered the hepatitis B vaccine when she was hired.
Medications: Not applicable
Vital Signs: Not applicable
Findings: Review of the office confirms lapses in barrier protection, sharps handling and instrument reprocessing documentation.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
- A. CORRECT. The CDC donning sequence is GOWN → MASK or respirator → GOGGLES or face shield → GLOVES. Gloves go on LAST so that they can be pulled over the gown cuffs, sealing the wrist. The logic runs from the body outward, ending with the hands.
- B. This sequence has gloves second, which creates the same problem.
- C. Gloves first defeats the purpose entirely — you cannot then put on a gown and mask without contaminating the gloves.
- D. This reverses the sequence and ends with the gown, leaving the cuffs unsealed.
Note: ⚑ The recall recorded 'gowns, eye wear, mask, gloves'. The order of the mask and eye protection is a minor variant between sources, but GOWN FIRST and GLOVES LAST is fixed and is what is actually tested. DOFFING is nearly the reverse and matters more for safety: gloves → goggles → gown → mask, removing the most contaminated item first and performing hand hygiene throughout.
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