What is the first step in the Garbing/Hand Hygiene Procedure in the anteroom?

The first step in the Garbing/Hand Hygiene Procedure in the anteroom is to start with shoe covers. This step is crucial as it helps prevent any potential contamination from the footwear, which may have been exposed to non-sterile environments. By putting on shoe covers first, personnel can minimize the risk of bringing contaminants into the sterile compounding environment.

Subsequent steps in the garbing process, such as washing hands and donning gowns and gloves, follow the initial application of shoe covers. This systematic approach helps maintain the cleanliness and sterility required for compounding sterile preparations. Many assessments of the garbing process emphasize the importance of starting from the lowest risk of contamination (footwear) and working up to the highest risk (gloves), ensuring a logical sequence that supports aseptic technique.