scholarly journals Effects of personal protective equipment on the physiological parameters of health care workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 37-39
Author(s):  
Varun Mahajan, MD ◽  
Karan Singla, MD ◽  
Kamal Kajal, MD ◽  
Shiv Soni, MD ◽  
Amarjyoti Hazarika, MD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Physiological Parameters ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Care Workers

We would like to add to the study, Understanding the physiological effects of wearing enhanced personal protective equipment while providing patient care by Bulson and Shawl from the November/December 2019 issue of Journal of Emergency Management.

A Statewide Voluntary Movement Addressing the Shortage of Medical Supplies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (9) ◽  
pp. 1595-1599
Author(s):  
Martin Krause ◽  
Andrew Henderson ◽  
Daniel Griner ◽  
Olivia S. Rissland ◽  
Jeremy Beard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Laser Cutting ◽  
Voluntary Movement ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Care Workers

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of personal protective equipment compromised efficient patient care and provider safety. Volunteers from many different backgrounds worked to meet these demands. Additive manufacturing, laser cutting, and alternative supply chains were used to produce, test, and deliver essential equipment for health care workers and first responders. Distributed equipment included ear guards, face shields, and masks. Contingent designs were created for powered air-purifying respirator hoods, filtered air pumps, intubation shields, and N95 masks.

scholarly journals Peculiarities of care for patients with coronavirus infection. Important safety issues for health care workers

2020 ◽  
pp. 254-256
Author(s):  
A.M. Savych
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Surface Cleaning ◽  
The Body ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Face

Background. In case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), contact persons include, but are not limited to, health care workers (HCW) and caregivers of COVID-19 patients. Personal protective equipment is required for HCW working with patients or individuals with suspected COVID-19. Correct sequence and the correct technique of putting them on is very important. Objective. To describe the safety measures for HCW in care of patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods. Analysis of literature sources on this topic. Results and discussion. Contaminated environmental surfaces take part in the contact route of transmission. To reduce the role of fomites in the transmission of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, special recommendations of the Ministry of Health on surface cleaning and disinfection have been developed. After cleaning, disinfectants must be used to reduce the viral load on the surface. These disinfectants are also effective against other pathogens that are important in health care settings. Such agents include ethanol 70-90 %, chlorine-based agents, and hydrogen peroxide >0.5 %. The register of disinfectants of Ukraine contains more than 200 brands. The vast majority of them are represented by alcohol- and chlorine-containing solutions of various concentrations, colors and odors. The use of these solutions is limited to the torso and extremities. These solutions have a number of limitations and caveats in their use. For instance, in case of contact with mucous membranes, they have an irritating effect and require rinsing with plenty of water. Vapors of some of them should not be inhaled, so they should be used in well-ventilated areas or with protective equipment. Alcohol-based products should not be applied to damaged areas of the skin due to protein denaturation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends to use the chlorine- and alcohol-based solutions with caution due to the lack of evidence of their safety. The decamethoxine-based solution Yusept (“Yuria-Pharm”) is intended for disinfection of hands and other parts of the body, including the face; for disinfection of HCW gloves and gloves in other places; for disinfection and pre-sterilization cleaning of all medical devices from various materials; for disinfection of hairdresser’s, manicure, pedicure and cosmetic accessories; for disinfection of rooms, furniture, patient care items, hygiene products, utensils, containers, sanitary equipment, rubber carpets; for current, final and preventive disinfection; for use in aerosol disinfection systems such as Yu-box and other disinfection systems. Proper hand washing technique is also an important preventive measure. The effectiveness of prevention of HCW infection during their professional duties depends on how serious the problem is taken by the management of the health care institution and the HCW, who work with infectious patients, themselves. Conclusions. 1. For HCW working with patients or persons with suspected COVID-19, the use of personal protective equipment is mandatory. 2. Contaminated surfaces take part in the implementation of the contact route of infections’ transmission. 3. The vast majority of disinfectant solutions are alcohol- and chlorine-containing ones, which have a number of limitations and precautions in use. 4. Yusept solution is intended for disinfection of hands and other parts of the body, including the face; for disinfection and pre-sterilization cleaning of all medical devices; for disinfection of rooms, furniture, patient care items; for use in aerosol disinfection systems.

scholarly journals COVID – 19 related knowledge and preventive practices early in the outbreak among health care workers in selected public health facilities of Illu aba Bor and Buno Bedelle zones, Southwest Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dereje Tsegaye ◽  
Muluneh Shuremu ◽  
Dereje Oljira ◽  
Sileshi Dubale ◽  
Getachew Befekadu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Southwest Ethiopia ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background Novel-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease is currently a worldwide health risk and public health emergency concern. The virus is transmitted from an infected person to another person through close contact and droplets. Frontline health care workers are the most at risk of infection, and so a WHO interim guidance document was issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) which underscores the importance of proper sanitation and waste management practices for COVID- 19 in health-care settings. This study aimed at assessing knowledge and preventive practices towards Covid-19 among health care providers in selected health facilities of Illu Aba Bor and Buno Bedele zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2020 among 330 health workers in selected health facilities of Illu Aba Bor and Buno-Bedelle Zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of preventive practices towards Covid-19. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05. Result The majority of respondents (93.3%) demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19, and the mean (SD) knowledge score was 9.04 ± 1.06. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of the study participants had good infection prevention practices. Being male (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI: (1.96, 6.80)), education level (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.02, 3.22)), profession (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI (1.08, 9.33)), service year (5–10 years) (AOR = 2.00 (1.02, 3.92)) and more than 10 years (AOR = 3.14 (1.51, 6.52)), availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 1.96 (1.06, 3.61)) and Knowledge level (AOR = 2.61 (1.48, 4.62)) were independent predictors of COVID-19 preventive practices. Conclusion The overall level of knowledge of HCWs was good. However, the practice was relatively low. Gender, educational status, profession, year of service, knowledge towards COVID-19, and availability of personal protective equipment were independent predictors of good infection prevention practices. Optimizing the infection prevention and control loop of the health facilities is recommended.

scholarly journals Adherence to personal protective equipment use among healthcare workers caring for confirmed COVID-19 and alleged non-COVID-19 patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meike M. Neuwirth ◽  
Frauke Mattner ◽  
Robin Otchwemah
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Workers

AbstractAdherence observations of health care workers (HCW) revealed deficiencies in the use of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCW caring in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards during the first period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a university hospital in Germany. The adherence to wearing surgical face or FFP2-masks and disinfecting hands prior to donning and after doffing the PPE was significantly higher in COVID-19 wards However, there was no total adherence of 100% in COVID-19 wards.

scholarly journals Utilization of an Orthopedic Hood as Personal Protective Equipment for Intubation of Coronavirus Patients: a Brief Technical Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215145932093055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy T. Wills ◽  
Wilhelm A. Zuelzer ◽  
Bryant W. Tran
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Endotracheal Intubation ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Technical Report

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has afflicted millions of people worldwide since its first case was reported in December 2019. Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been tailored accordingly, but as of April 2020, close to 10 000 health care workers in the United States have contracted COVID-19 despite wearing recommended PPE. As such, standard guidelines for PPE may be inadequate for the health care worker performing high-risk aerosolizing procedures such as endotracheal intubation. In this brief technical report, we describe the integration of an orthopedic hood cover as an item for full barrier protection against COVID-19 transmission. Technical Description: The Coronavirus Airway Task Force at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center approved this initiative and went live with the full barrier suit during the last week of March 2020. The PPE described in this report includes a Stryker T4 Hood, normally used in conjunction with the Stryker Steri-Shield T4 Helmet. Instead of the helmet, the hood is secured to the head via a baseball cap and binder clip. This head covering apparatus is to be used as an accessory to other PPE items that include an N95 mask, waterproof gown, and disposable gloves. The motor ventilation system is not used in order to prevent airborne viral entry into the hood. Discussion: An advantage of the full barrier suit is an additional layer of droplet protection during intubation. The most notable disadvantage is the absence of a ventilation system within the hood covering. Conclusion: Modification of existing PPE may provide protection for health care workers during high-risk aerosolizing procedures such as endotracheal intubation. Although the integration of this medical equipment meets the immediate needs of an escalating crisis, further innovation is on the horizon. More research is needed to confirm the safety of modified PPE.

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