Which items are classified as personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specifically designed to protect healthcare workers from exposure to hazards, including infections that can be transmitted through contact, droplets, or airborne particles. The correct answer encompasses a range of items that help to safeguard the wearer’s health by providing barriers or filtration against potential contaminants.

Masks, face shields, goggles, respirators, gowns, and gloves all serve distinct functions in infection control. Masks and respirators help prevent respiratory droplets from entering the airways, face shields and goggles protect the eyes from splashes or airborne particles, gowns provide a protective barrier for clothing and skin to prevent contamination, and gloves protect hands from pathogens.

This selection highlights both the variety and specificity of PPE, emphasizing its role in maintaining the safety of healthcare providers and reducing the risk of transmitting infections. In contrast, the other options either include items that do not qualify as PPE or mix protective items with non-protective items. For instance, a stethoscope is a diagnostic tool rather than a protective item, bandages and tweezers are not intended for personal protection against infection, and heating pads and gauze do not offer any level of personal protection in hazardous situations.