Which protective equipment is needed for intubation under Standard Precautions?

1. The equipment follows the exposure that the task is expected to produce. 2. Intubation puts the operator close to the airway with a real chance of splashing and of respiratory secretions reaching the face. 3. So gloves, a gown, and either a face shield or a mask with goggles are necessary. 4. Gloves alone match a task such as venipuncture, where the exposure is confined to the hands. 5. Leaving out facial protection ignores the eyes and mucous membranes, which are entry points in their own right. 6. Emergency intubation is the example that shows why this holds even when no infection is suspected, since agents are sometimes identified only afterwards. _Source: CDC Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007), Part III, section III.A. Standard Precautions_