For contact precautions, which PPE combination is required?

• A. Gloves
• B. Gloves and gown
• C. Gown and mask
• D. Mask only

Answer: (B)

For contact precautions, the goal is to block transmission from direct or indirect contact with the patient or their surroundings. The essential protection is gloves and a gown. Gloves shield your hands from touching infectious material, while a gown protects your clothing and skin from contamination that can occur when you reach for the patient or contaminated surfaces. A mask isn’t part of standard contact precautions because the main risk here is contact, not respiratory droplets or airborne spread. You would add a mask (and possibly eye protection) only if there’s also a risk of splashes or another mode of transmission. So the combination of gloves and a gown is the correct, minimal protection for this scenario.