In sterile technique, which items are typically donned before sterile gloves?

• A. Cap and gloves
• B. Cap, mask, and sterile gown
• C. Mask and sterile gown
• D. Cap, mask, and gloves

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a sterile field starts with preventing contamination from hair and respiratory droplets, then establishing a sterile barrier around the body. Covering the hair with a cap prevents shedding, wearing a mask reduces the spread of droplets from breathing or talking, and donning a sterile gown creates a barrier for the wearer’s torso and sleeves. Only after these have been put on do you proceed to put on sterile gloves, ensuring your hands remain sterile and don’t contaminate the field. Putting on gloves before the gown or missing any of these protective pieces would increase the risk of introducing contaminants to the sterile area. Therefore, cap, mask, and sterile gown are typically donned before sterile gloves.