Why Do Healthcare Workers Wear Different PPE?

NICOLE ENAD     20th May 2025

Why Do Healthcare Workers Wear Different PPE?

If you've ever walked through a hospital or seen images of healthcare workers, you may have noticed that personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn in many different combinations. Some staff are in full gear—gowns, gloves, masks, face shields—while others might only be wearing aprons, gloves and a mask. This variation can be confusing, especially for those buying PPE for clinics, aged care facilities, or home care.

The truth is, what PPE you wear depends on multiple factors, including your role, environment, procedure, and infection risks. Each healthcare setting—from hospitals to GP clinics—follows protocols shaped by national guidelines, workplace policies, and the level of infection control required.

In this blog, we’ll provide a clear outline of the minimum PPE standards recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Whether you're a buyer for a medical practice or simply want to understand PPE better, this guide will help you make informed choices—plus, we’ll show you where you can shop for trusted PPE supplies at MedCart.

Why Is PPE Worn Differently?

There is no one-size-fits-all rule for PPE. The combination of PPE worn often depends on:

  • Healthcare facility policies (hospitals, clinics, aged care, etc.)
  • Environment and setting (e.g., surgical theatre vs. general ward)
  • The procedure being carried out (e.g., surgery, specimen collection, or aerosol-generating tasks)
  • The level and type of risk involved
  • Infection status or suspected infection of the patient

Each facility may have slightly different policies, but the minimum standards are generally based on national guidelines.

Why Does PPE Matter in Healthcare?

PPE is essential for the prevention and control of infections in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers and patients alike may be at risk of infection or transmission of infectious agents. PPE serves as a barrier to protect the wearer from potential exposure to harmful microorganisms and contaminants.

According to the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019), successful infection prevention and control involves implementing work practices that reduce the risk of infection transmission. These practices are organized into a two-tiered approach:

1. Standard Precautions. These are everyday practices used for all patients, regardless of infection status. They include essential practices like hand hygiene, safe sharps handling, cleaning, and of course, the appropriate use of PPE.

2. Transmission-Based Precautions. These are additional measures used when standard precautions are not enough—especially when dealing with infectious diseases. These precautions are tailored to the mode of transmission (contact, droplet, or airborne).

These precautions also include strategies like patient-dedicated equipment, single room allocation, appropriate air handling, enhanced cleaning and proper use of specific PPE.

For high-risk procedures like aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), even more stringent PPE standards apply.

In this blog article, we'll focus specifically on the use of PPE as part of the standard and transmission-based precautions. By following the minimum recommended standards for PPE, healthcare workers can help prevent infection outbreaks and minimize the spread of diseases.

Understanding the Types of PPE

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to specialised clothing or equipment worn by healthcare workers to protect themselves and others from infectious hazards. The choice of PPE depends on the task being performed, the risk of exposure, and the mode of transmission of potential infectious agents.

Below are the most commonly used types of PPE in healthcare settings:

1. Gloves

  • Purpose: Protect hands from contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or contaminated equipment and surfaces.
  • When to use: Before touching a patient, before aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, and after touching a patient or their surroundings.
  • Types: Non-sterile (for general use), Sterile (for surgical or aseptic procedures).

2. Gowns or Aprons

  • Purpose: Protect skin and clothing from contamination.
  • When to use: During procedures likely to cause splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids, or when close contact with patients is expected.
  • Types: Disposable or reusable; full-length or plastic aprons depending on the level of exposure.

3. Surgical Masks

  • Purpose: Protect the wearer’s nose and mouth from large droplets and to prevent spreading respiratory secretions.
  • When to use: For droplet precautions, when in close contact with patients, especially those with respiratory symptoms.
  • Levels: Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (moderate risk), Level 3 (high risk).

4. P2/N95 Respirators

  • Purpose: Protect from airborne particles, including fine aerosols.
  • When to use: For airborne precautions, such as when treating patients with suspected or confirmed airborne infections (e.g., tuberculosis, COVID-19), especially during aerosol-generating procedures.
  • Note: Must be fit-tested to ensure proper seal and protection.

5. Eye Protection (Goggles or Face Shields)

  • Purpose: Protect eyes from splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions.
  • When to use: During procedures where there’s a risk of splash to the eyes or face.
  • Types: Safety goggles, face shields, or protective eyewear.

6. Head Covers (Caps, Hoods)

  • Purpose: Prevent hair from shedding microorganisms and protect the hair and scalp from contamination.
  • When to use: Typically used in surgical or sterile environments.

7. Shoe Covers

  • Purpose: Protect footwear from contamination and prevent tracking of infectious material.
  • When to use: In high-risk or sterile environments, especially in operating theatres or isolation areas.

Disclaimer: The level and combination of PPE required varies depending on the procedure, risk of exposure, and the infectious agent involved. Always follow facility protocols and national guidelines.

PPE types and use referenced from the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019) and Personal Protective Equipment Selection Policy Guideline. 

PPE for Healthcare Workers Recommendations by Protection Level and Risk

This table outlines and combines the conventional use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the Covid pandemic and when providing patient care by Level of Protection.

Disclaimer: The following table is a general guideline compiled using publicly available references and interpreted by the author. It should not be used as a clinical decision-making tool. Always refer to your facility’s protocols and the most current official guidelines.







Where to Buy

  • Level 1 (PPE for Standard Precaution)

Low Risk

Moderate Risk

High Risk

Droplet

Airborne


References:

  1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Selection Policy Guideline
  2. Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019) - National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
  3. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – A guide to the conventional use of PPE
  4. Appendix 16 – Best Practice - Aide memoire for Levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Healthcare Workers when providing patient care
  5. Properties of PPE for Use in Healthcare
  6. Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007)



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