How can I effectively implement and monitor the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in my practice to reduce infection risk?

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 ¹.
• 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 ¹.
• Availability of supplies: Maintain appropriate and accessible stocks of PPE, hand decontamination materials, and sharps containers wherever care is delivered ¹.
• 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 ¹.
• 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 ¹.
• 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 ¹.
• Respiratory protection: Use particulate filter masks when clinically indicated ¹.
• Monitoring and compliance: Regularly audit PPE availability, correct usage, and disposal practices; provide feedback and refresher training as needed to maintain standards ¹.
• Patient and carer education: Inform patients and carers about hand hygiene and their role in supporting infection prevention ¹.