Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

FDA.gov

Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, gloves, face shields, goggles, face masks, respirators, and other equipment designed to protect the wearer from injury or help prevent wearer exposure to infection or illness.

PPE is commonly used in health care settings such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinical labs, as well as veterinary hospitals, food production facilities, and food service settings. When used properly, PPE acts as a barrier between infectious materials (such as viral and bacterial contaminants) and your skin, mouth, nose, or eyes (mucous membranes). The barrier provided by the PPE has the potential to block transmission of contaminants from blood, body fluids, or respiratory secretions when used properly.

PPE may also protect patients who are at high risk for contracting infections through a surgical procedure or who have a medical condition, such as an immunodeficiency, from being exposed to substances or potentially infectious material brought in by visitors and health care workers.

When used properly and with other infection control practices such as hand-washing, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes, PPE minimizes the spread of infection from one person to another. Effective use of PPE includes properly removing and disposing of contaminated PPE to prevent exposing both the wearer and other people to infection.

Information about PPE and COVID-19:

• Questions about Personal Protective Equipment
• Frequently Asked Questions on Shortages of Surgical Masks and Gowns
• Frequently Asked Questions on 3D Printing of Medical Devices, Accessories, Components, and Parts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The FDA recognizes that the need for PPE, such as surgical masks, surgical and isolation gowns, surgical suits, and medical gloves may outpace the supply available to health care organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the FDA is recommending these conservation strategies for use by health care organizations and personnel:

• Medical Glove Conservation Strategies – Letter to Health Care Providers
• Surgical Mask and Gown Conservation Strategies – Letter to Health Care Providers

The FDA has also issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a system that can decontaminate certain types of N95 respirators for reuse by health care personnel in a health care setting.

• See the list of Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) related to personal protective equipment.