What is the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for contact precautions?

In the context of contact precautions, the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a gown and gloves. This is essential because contact precautions are implemented to prevent the spread of infections that can be transmitted via direct or indirect contact with patients or contaminated surfaces.

Wearing a gown protects the healthcare worker's clothing and skin from coming into contact with infectious agents, while gloves create a barrier between the hands and any potentially infectious materials. This combination is crucial in healthcare settings where patients may have multidrug-resistant organisms or other transmissible pathogens.

Face shields and masks, surgical masks, eye protection, and respirators, while they have important roles in other precautionary measures (such as droplet or airborne precautions), do not specifically address the route of transmission associated with contact precautions. The key focus of contact precautions is to minimize direct contact with the patient or their environment, making gown and gloves the most appropriate options.