PPE required for contact precautions?

• A. N95 respirator and gloves.
• B. Surgical mask only.
• C. No PPE beyond gloves.
• D. Gloves and gown; eye protection if splashing risk.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to prevent transmission of organisms through contact with the patient or the surrounding environment. For contact precautions, you wear gloves and a gown to create a barrier against touch—gloves protect your hands, and a gown protects your clothing and exposed skin. Eye protection is added if there’s a risk of splashing or secretions reaching the eyes. Masks like N95 or a surgical mask aren’t routinely required for standard contact precautions because they protect against inhalation of particles or droplets, not direct contact transmission. So the recommended PPE is gloves and a gown, with eye protection if splash risk is present.