scholarly journals COVID-19 Disposable Face Masks: a Precursor for Synthesis of Valuable Bioproducts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwatosin Oginni
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Thermoplastic Polymers ◽  
Secondary Transmission

Abstract Disposable face mask has become a mandatory personal protective equipment in order to prevent contracting COVID-19. With the significant surge in its usage, its adverse environmental impact is becoming a source of concern. Disposable face masks are made from thermoplastic polymers and therefore they can be safely converted into valuable bioproducts. This paper discussed the possibility of converting waste/contaminated face masks into valuable bioproducts, which will essentially eliminate secondary transmission of the coronavirus and the concerns of environmental pollution.

Feasibility study: Proposed alternative to N95 respirator during the personal protective equipment shortage from COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 192-202
Author(s):  
Ahel El Haj Chehade, MD ◽  
Jesintha Stephenson, MD ◽  
Evan Floyd, PhD ◽  
Jean Keddissi, MD, FCCP ◽  
Tony Abdo, MD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulse Oximetry ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
The United States ◽  
Geometric Standard Deviation ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Fit Testing

Introduction: Having an adequate supply of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a constant challenge for hospitals across the United States. In the event of shortages, our assembled mask might offer noninferior protection compared to an N95 respirator. Objective: To study the ability of an assembled mask to pass a quantitative fit testing.Methods: We conducted a feasibility study at the Oklahoma City Veteran Affairs Health Care System. Volunteers were fitted with an assembled mask made of either a Hans Rudolph half-face mask or a Respironics Performax full-face mask, attached to an Iso-Gard HEPA light Filter 28022 through a Performax SE elbow hinge. Quantitative fit testing was conducted using the Occupation Safety and Health Administration fit testing protocol. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants who pass the quantitative fit test. Secondary outcomes included the overall fit factor (FF), average FF for different exercises, changes in pulse oximetry and endtidal CO2 at 0 and 15 minutes, willingness to use the mask, and visibility assessment.Results: Twenty participants completed the study, and all (100 percent) passed the quantitative fit testing. The overall FF had a geometric mean of 2,317 (range: 208-16,613) and a geometric standard deviation of 3.8. The lowest FF was recorded while the subjects were talking. Between time 0 and 15 minutes, there was no clinically significant change in pulse oximetry and end-tidal CO2 levels. Most participants reported “very good” visibility and were “highly likely” to use the Hans Rudolph half-face mask in the case of shortage.Conclusion: Our assembled respirator offers noninferior protection to N95 respirators in the setting of hypothetical protective equipment shortage.

Respiratory viruses on personal protective equipment and bodies of healthcare workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1356-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linh T. Phan ◽  
Dagmar Sweeney ◽  
Dayana Maita ◽  
Donna C. Moritz ◽  
Susan C. Bleasdale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
The Body ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Bare Hand ◽  
Polymerase Chain

AbstractObjective:To characterize the magnitude of virus contamination on personal protective equipment (PPE), skin, and clothing of healthcare workers (HCWs) who cared for patients having acute viral infections.Design:Prospective observational study.Setting:Acute-care academic hospital.Participants:A total of 59 HCWs agreed to have their PPE, clothing, and/or skin swabbed for virus measurement.Methods:The PPE worn by HCW participants, including glove, face mask, gown, and personal stethoscope, were swabbed with Copan swabs. After PPE doffing, bodies and clothing of HCWs were sampled with Copan swabs: hand, face, and scrubs. Preamplification and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods were used to quantify viral RNA copies in the swab samples.Results:Overall, 31% of glove samples, 21% of gown samples, and 12% of face mask samples were positive for virus. Among the body and clothing sites, 21% of bare hand samples, 11% of scrub samples, and 7% of face samples were positive for virus. Virus concentrations on PPE were not statistically significantly different than concentrations on skin and clothing under PPE. Virus concentrations on the personal stethoscopes and on the gowns were positively correlated with the number of torso contacts (P < .05). Virus concentrations on face masks were positively correlated with the number of face mask contacts and patient contacts (P < .05).Conclusions:Healthcare workers are routinely contaminated with respiratory viruses after patient care, indicating the need to ensure that HCWs complete hand hygiene and use other PPE to prevent dissemination of virus to other areas of the hospital. Modifying self-contact behaviors may decrease the presence of virus on HCWs.

scholarly journals Individual-Level Heterogeneity in Mask-wearing During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen X. Zhang ◽  
Kim Hoe Looi ◽  
Nicolas Li ◽  
Jizhen LI ◽  
Xue Wan
Keyword(s):  
Health Communication ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Individual Heterogeneity ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Choices ◽  
Specific Health

Wearing a face mask has been a key approach to contain or slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the ongoing pandemic. However, there is huge heterogeneity among individuals in their willingness to wear face masks during an epidemic. This research aims to investigate the individual heterogeneity to wear face masks and its associated predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic when mask-wearing was not mandatory but individual choices. Based on a survey of 708 Malaysian adults and a multivariate least-squares fitting analysis, the results reveal a significant variance among individuals in wearing masks, as 34% of the individual adults did not always wear masks in public places. Female, individuals who wash their hands more frequently, and those who reported more availability of personal protective equipment were more likely to practice mask-wearing. The identification of less compliant groups of mask-wearing has critical implications by enabling more specific health communication campaigns.

Full-face mask adapter as COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment: design, tests and validation

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 986-993
Author(s):  
Ruben Fuentes-Alvarez ◽  
Mariel Alfaro-Ponce ◽  
Fanny Alvarado ◽  
Jessica Aidee Mora-Galvan ◽  
Rita Q. Fuentes-Aguilar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Equipment Design ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Full Face

scholarly journals Surgical Performance Is Not Negatively Impacted by Wearing a Commercial Full-Face Mask with Ad Hoc 3D-Printed Filter Connection as a Substitute for Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Amelia Felinska ◽  
Zi-Wei Chen ◽  
Thomas Ewald Fuchs ◽  
Benjamin Otto ◽  
Hannes Götz Kenngott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Surgical Performance ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Full Face

(1) Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages in the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) have become apparent. The idea of using commonly available full-face diving (FFD) masks as a temporary solution was quickly spread across social media. However, it was unknown whether an FFD mask would considerably impair complex surgical tasks. Thus, we aimed to assess laparoscopic surgical performance while wearing an FFD mask as PPE. (2) Methods: In a randomized-controlled cross-over trial, 40 laparoscopically naive medical students performed laparoscopic procedures while wearing an FFD mask with ad hoc 3D-printed connections to heat and moisture exchange (HME) filters vs. wearing a common surgical face mask. The performance was evaluated using global and specific Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) checklists for suturing and cholecystectomy. (3) Results: For the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, both global OSATS scores and specific OSATS scores for the quality of procedure were similar (Group 1: 25 ± 4.3 and 45.7 ± 12.9, p = 0.485, vs. Group 2: 24.1 ± 3.7 and 43.3 ± 7.6, p = 0.485). For the laparoscopic suturing task, the FFD mask group needed similar times to the surgical mask group (3009 ± 1694 s vs. 2443 ± 949 s; p = 0.200). Some participants reported impaired verbal communication while wearing the FFD mask, as it muffled the sound of speech, as well as discomfort in breathing. (4) Conclusions: FFD masks do not affect the quality of laparoscopic surgical performance, despite being uncomfortable, and may therefore be used as a substitute for conventional PPE in times of shortage—i.e., the global COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Physiological Hazards and Advancement of COVID-19 in Patients as a Result of Habitual and Prolong Face Mask Usage: Potential Prevention

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 712-715
Author(s):  
Onwuka O. M.
Keyword(s):  
Human Physiology ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
First Report ◽  
Airborne Infections

Background: Since the first report of coronavirus disease widely known as COVID-19, in late December 2019; face masks (medical, surgical etc.) became one of the preventive/common measures adopted, which in turn resulted to its habitual use. The habitual use of the masks portrayed potential physiological hazards as it is suggested to affect the human physiology adversely. Content: This article highlighted consequences of habitual and prolonged face mask usage which includes; potential physiological hazards and advancement of COVID-19 in infected individuals that employ its use. Conclusion: The article did not undermine the usefulness of surgical or medical mask as personal protective equipment worn to prevent transmission of airborne infections (COVID-19, etc.), but the article suggests avoidance of habitual and prolonged use of masks and possible ways to use it in order to prevent physiological hazards that result from its habitual use. Keywords: COVID-19, face mask, physiological hazard, habitual use, frequent.

scholarly journals Cost of Personal Protective Equipment During the First Wave of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s49-s49
Author(s):  
Alfredo Mena Lora ◽  
Mirza Ali ◽  
Sherrie Spencer ◽  
Eden Takhsh ◽  
Candice Krill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Maximum Cost ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
The Difference ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
The Impact

Background: As the world prepared for and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, a rapid increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) led to severe shortages worldwide. Acquisition of PPE in the general market was an integral part of pandemic response, along with the safeguarding of hospital supplies. We seek to quantify the difference in cost per unit (CPU) of PPE during the first wave of COVID-19 compared to prepandemic prices. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of market prices for PPE during the first surge of the pandemic in Chicago. Cost of PPE was tabulated and compared with prepandemic prices. The maximum cost per unit (CPU) of PPE was tabulated for each week, and the average cost throughout the pandemic was calculated. Disposable gowns, washable gowns, N95 respirators, face masks, and gloves were included in our analysis. Results: PPE prices were significantly higher during the pandemic compared to prepandemic prices (Figure 1). Disposable gown CPU peaked at $12 during the first week of March, 13.7 times higher than prepandemic prices, and the average gown CPU was 7.5 times higher than prepandemic prices. N95 respirators had a peak CPU of $12, and average CPU was 8 times higher than prepandemic prices. Face-mask CPU peaked at $0.55, 11 times higher, and averaged 9 times higher the regular price. Gloves averaged 2.5 times higher than the prepandemic CPU. Conclusions: Market prices for PPE were significantly elevated during the first weeks of the pandemic and remained high throughout the first wave of COVID-19. Multiple factors likely contributed to high prices, including demand shock, disrupted supply chains, and a rush to acquisition by healthcare systems and the general population alike. The impact of COVID-19 on prices highlights the importance of supply chains and national stockpiles for pandemic preparedness.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Environmental impact of personal protective equipment distributed for use by health and social care services in England in the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 014107682110015
Author(s):  
Chantelle Rizan ◽  
Malcolm Reed ◽  
Mahmood F Bhutta
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Scenario Modelling ◽  
Base Scenario

Objective To quantify the environmental impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) distributed for use by the health and social care system to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in England, and model strategies for mitigating the environmental impact. Design Life cycle assessment was used to determine environmental impacts of PPE distributed to health and social care in England during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The base scenario assumed all products were single-use and disposed of via clinical waste. Scenario modelling was used to determine the effect of environmental mitigation strategies: (1) eliminating international travel during supply; (2) eliminating glove use; (3) reusing gowns and face shields; and (4) maximal recycling. Setting Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK. Main outcome measures The carbon footprint of PPE distributed during the study period totalled 106,478 tonnes CO2e, with greatest contributions from gloves, aprons, face shields and Type IIR surgical masks. The estimated damage to human health was 239 DALYs (disability-adjusted life years), impact on ecosystems was 0.47 species.year (loss of local species per year), and impact on resource depletion was costed at US $12.7m (GBP £9.3m). Scenario modelling indicated UK manufacture would have reduced the carbon footprint by 12%, eliminating gloves by 45%, reusing gowns and gloves by 10% and maximal recycling by 35%. Results A combination of strategies may have reduced the carbon footprint by 75% compared with the base scenario, and saved an estimated 183 DALYS, 0.34 species.year and US $7.4m (GBP £5.4m) due to resource depletion. Conclusion The environmental impact of PPE is large and could be reduced through domestic manufacture, rationalising glove use, using reusables where possible and optimising waste management.

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