RESEARCH: Dry Heat Processing of Single-Use Respirators and Surgical Masks

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 410-416
Author(s):  
Joyce M. Hansen ◽  
Scott Weiss ◽  
Terra A. Kremer ◽  
Myrelis Aguilar ◽  
Gerald McDonnell
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Heat Processing ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Dry Heat ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Single Use

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has challenged healthcare providers in maintaining the supply of critical personal protective equipment, including single-use respirators and surgical masks. Single-use respirators and surgical masks can reduce risks from the inhalation of airborne particles and microbial contamination. The recent high-volume demand for single-use respirators and surgical masks has resulted in many healthcare facilities considering processing to address critical shortages. The dry heat process of 80°C (176°F) for two hours (120 min) has been confirmed to be an appropriate method for single-use respirator and surgical mask processing.

scholarly journals The use of germicidal ultraviolet light, vaporised hydrogen peroxide and dry heat to decontaminate face masks and filtering respirators contaminated with a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa F Ludwig-Begall ◽  
Constance Wielick ◽  
Lorene Dams ◽  
Hans Nauwynck ◽  
Pierre-Francois Demeuldre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Stable Model ◽  
Dry Heat ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Dry Heat Treatment ◽  
Respiratory Coronavirus ◽  
Porcine Respiratory

Background In the context of the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the supply of personal protective equipment remains under severe strain. To address this issue, re-use of surgical face masks and filtering facepiece respirators has been recommended; prior decontamination is paramount to their re-use. Aim We aim to provide information on the effects of three decontamination procedures on porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV)-contaminated masks and respirators, presenting a stable model for infectious coronavirus decontamination of these typically single-use-only products. Methods Surgical masks and filtering facepiece respirator coupons and straps were inoculated with infectious PRCV and submitted to three decontamination treatments, UV irradiation, vaporised H2O2, and dry heat treatment. Viruses were recovered from sample materials and viral titres were measured in swine testicle cells. Findings UV irradiation, vaporised H2O2 and dry heat reduced infectious PRCV by more than three orders of magnitude on mask and respirator coupons and rendered it undetectable in all decontamination assays. Conclusion This is the first description of stable disinfection of face masks and filtering facepiece respirators contaminated with an infectious SARS-CoV-2 surrogate using UV irradiation, vaporised H2O2 and dry heat treatment. The three methods permit demonstration of a loss of infectivity by more than three orders of magnitude of an infectious coronavirus in line with the FDA policy regarding face masks and respirators. It presents advantages of uncomplicated manipulation and utilisation in a BSL2 facility, therefore being easily adaptable to other respirator and mask types.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF SPHYGMOMANOMETERS IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN BENIN CITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-195
Author(s):  
A. E. Okaekwu ◽  
S. F. Usifoh ◽  
U. F. Babaiwa
Keyword(s):  
Nosocomial Infections ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Benin City ◽  
Tertiary Hospitals ◽  
Identification Techniques ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Nosocomial infections are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for other health conditions within a healthcare setting or facility. This study aims to determine the level of awareness of healthcare providers on the role sphygmomanometers play in the spread of nosocomial infections and to isolate microorganisms in sphygmomanometer cuffs used in healthcare facilities. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and administered to healthcare practitioners of two tertiary hospitals and community pharmacies in Benin City. Microbial contamination of sphygmomanometer cuffs was investigated following the standard isolation and identification techniques for microorganisms. A total of 217 responded; 27.2% pharmacists, 33.2% doctors and 39.6% nurses. The majority (50.2%) were between the ages of 20 – 30 years. 65.4% were females and 51.6% were single. Ninety-four percent (94%) of the total respondents said that microorganisms are present in the inner cuffs of sphygmomanometers, 76% said microorganisms on the cuffs are sources of nosocomial infections while 80.6% said patients can be infected with the use of sphygmomanometers. A total of 192 swabbed samples were collected from 64 cuffs in the healthcare facilities, 46.5% were bacteria and 53.5% fungi. The most isolated organisms were candida species 42(21%), Staphylococcus aureus 41(20.5% of which 28(68.3%) were methicillin resistant.), Mucor 34(17%), Aspergillus species 23(11.5%). Ninety four percent (94%) of respondents had good knowledge that blood pressure cuffs play a role in the spread of nosocomial infections. The sphygmomanometer cuffs were contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms implicated in nosocomial infections.

scholarly journals A69 THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON CURRENT AND FUTURE ENDOSCOPIC PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PRACTICES: A NATIONAL SURVEY OF 77 ENDOSCOPISTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 31-32
Author(s):  
W Sun ◽  
M El Hafid ◽  
J Dang ◽  
V Mocanu ◽  
G Lutzak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Eye Protection ◽  
Individual Outcomes ◽  
Canadian Association ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
General Surgeons ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
Hospital Acquired

Abstract Background Personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines serve to protect healthcare providers and patients from harmful biohazards. With the rise of the 2019 SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19), many institutions have mandated strictly enforced endoscopic PPE guidelines. We currently do not know how current practitioners perceive these mandates or how they will influence their practice long-term. Aims We aimed to survey the PPE practices among endoscopists across Canada and compare their perceived differences in practice between the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic eras. We hypothesize that the PPE guidelines during the pandemic will influence changes in PPE practices in endoscopy. Methods A 74-item questionnaire was emailed from June 2020 to September 2020 to all members of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterologists and the Canadian Association of General Surgeons through newsletters. The survey was created by expert consensus and distributed using the REDCap software. Survey questions collected basic demographics and differences between PPE practices pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic eras. PPE practices were categorized into four endoscopic procedure types: diagnostic or therapeutic, and upper or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Individual outcomes were reported as rates, or ranges when evaluating for all procedure types. Results A total of 77 respondents completed the survey with the majority of respondents aged 40–49 (34 [44.2%]) and identifying as Gastroenterologists (54 [70.1%]). Gender was evenly split (38 females [49.4%] versus 39 males [50.6%]). In the pre-pandemic era, the majority of endoscopists wore gowns (91.0–93.9%) and all endoscopists wore gloves (100%). However, the majority of endoscopists did not wear surgical masks (20.9%-31.3%), N95 respirators (1.5%-3.2%), face shields (13.4%-33.9%), eye protection (13.4%-21.3%), or hair protection (11.1%-12.5%). In the post-pandemic era, endoscopists reported a plan to dramatically change their pre-pandemic practices and adopt current PPE mandates. All endoscopists reported a plan to fully gown and glove (100%) with the majority reporting they will continue wearing surgical masks (87.7%-90.5%), face shields (57.8%-75.0%), and hair protection (50.8%-53.8%). However, the majority reported a plan to decrease universal use of N95 respirators (6.5%-23.7%) or eye protection (36.5%-40.0%). Over half of the respondents reported changing their practice from no masking pre-pandemic to implementing routine masking. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the attitudes of many endoscopists regarding future PPE use in routine endoscopy. Ongoing studies comparing the rates of transmission of hospital-acquired infections in the setting of endoscopy are needed to develop a new post-pandemic PPE consensus. Funding Agencies None

scholarly journals A Review of Single-Use and Reusable Gowns and Drapes in Health Care

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Rutala ◽  
David J. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Surgical Site Infections ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Invasive Procedures ◽  
Bloodborne Pathogens ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Environmental Surfaces ◽  
Single Use

AbstractGowns and drapes are used widely in healthcare facilities. Gowns have been used to minimize the risk of disease acquisition by healthcare providers, to reduce the risk of patient-to-patient transmission, and during invasive procedures to aid in maintaining a sterile field. Drapes have been used during invasive procedures to maintain the sterility of environmental surfaces, equipment, and patients. This article reviews the use of gowns and drapes in healthcare facilities, including the characteristics, costs, benefits, and barrier effectiveness of single-use and reusable products.Currently, gowns protect healthcare personnel performing invasive procedures from contact with bloodborne pathogens. Although gowns have been recommended to prevent patient-to-patient transmission in certain settings (eg, neonatal intensive care unit) and for certain patients (eg, those infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci), scientific studies have produced mixed results of their efficacy. While appropriate use of drapes during invasive procedures is recommended widely as an aid in minimizing contamination of the operative field, the efficacy of this practice in reducing surgical-site infections has not been assessed by scientific studies.Based on an evaluation of the functional requirements, environmental impact, and economics of gowns and drapes, clear superiority of either reusable or single-use gowns and drapes cannot be demonstrated. The selection of particular gowns and drapes by individual healthcare facilities requires an assessment of the facility's requirements, available products, and costs and should be based on the desired characteristics of an ideal gown or drape as defined in this paper.

scholarly journals Silk fabric as a protective barrier for personal protective equipment and as a functional material for face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam F. Parlin ◽  
Samuel M. Stratton ◽  
Theresa M. Culley ◽  
Patrick A. Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Silk Fabric ◽  
Functional Material ◽  
Protective Barrier ◽  
Hydrophobic Barrier ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
N95 Respirators

AbstractBackgroundThe worldwide shortage of single-use N95 respirators and surgical masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many health care personnel to prolong the use of their existing equipment as much as possible. In many cases, workers cover respirators with available masks in an attempt to extend their effectiveness against the virus. Due to low mask supplies, many people instead are using face coverings improvised from common fabrics. Our goal was to determine what fabrics would be most effective in both practices.Methods and findingsWe examined the hydrophobicity of fabrics (silk, cotton, polyester), as measured by their resistance to the penetration of small and aerosolized water droplets, an important transmission avenue for the virus causing COVID-19. We also examined the breathability of these fabrics and their ability to maintain hydrophobicity despite undergoing repeated cleaning. Tests were done when fabrics were fashioned as an overlaying barrier and also when constructed as do-it-yourself face coverings. As a protective barrier and face covering, silk is more effective at impeding the penetration and absorption of droplets due to its greater hydrophobicity relative to other tested fabrics. Silk face coverings repelled droplets as well as masks, but unlike masks they are hydrophobic and can be readily sterilized for immediate reuse.ConclusionsSilk is an effective hydrophobic barrier to droplets, more breathable than other fabrics that trap humidity, and are readily re-useable via cleaning. Therefore, silk can serve as an effective material for protecting respirators under clinical conditions and as a material for face coverings.

scholarly journals DECONTAMINATION INTERVENTIONS FOR THE REUSE OF SURGICAL MASK PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE): A PROTOCOL FOR A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Zorko ◽  
Karen Choong ◽  
Dayre McNally ◽  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Margaret Sampson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
High Demand ◽  
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

As the global spread of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) escalates, the high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created shortages of this equipment globally and prompted the need to ensure appropriate stewardship and develop strategies to conserve supply. Surgical masks have broad and commonplace applications as PPE, including in the care of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, and for the care of the general patient population in areas where community spread of COVID-19 is of concern. Surgical mask rationing and conservation is therefore a priority to ensure adequate supply during a pandemic. Several methods have been considered to decontaminate and allow the reuse of single-use PPE, such as hydrogen peroxide vapour and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, but to date this literature has not been comprehensively synthesized. The objective of this systematic review is to identify and synthesize data from published studies evaluating interventions used to decontaminate or treat surgical mask PPE for the purposes of reuse.

scholarly journals Of masks and methylene blue - the use of methylene blue photochemical treatment to decontaminate surgical masks contaminated with a tenacious small non-enveloped norovirus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Wielick ◽  
Allyson Fries ◽  
Lorène Dams ◽  
Ravo Michèle Razafimahefa ◽  
Belinda Heyne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methylene Blue ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Short Exposure ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Murine Norovirus ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Human Viruses

Background In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, reuse of personal protective equipment, specifically that of medical face coverings, has been recommended. The reuse of these typically single-use only items necessitates procedures to inactivate contaminating human respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens. We previously demonstrated decontamination of surgical masks and respirators contaminated with infectious SARS-CoV-2 and various animal coronaviruses via low concentration- and short exposure methylene blue photochemical treatment (10 uM methylene blue, 30 minutes of 12,500-lux red light or 50,000 lux white light exposure). Methods Here, we describe the adaptation of this protocol to the decontamination of a more resistant, non-enveloped gastrointestinal virus and demonstrate efficient photodynamic inactivation of murine norovirus, a human norovirus surrogate. Results Methylene blue photochemical treatment (100 uM methylene blue, 30 minutes of 12,500-lux red light exposure) of murine norovirus-contaminated masks reduced infectious viral titres by over four orders of magnitude on surgical mask surfaces. Discussion and Conclusions Inactivation of a norovirus, the most difficult to inactivate of the respiratory and gastrointestinal human viruses, can predict the inactivation of any less resistant viral mask contaminant. The protocol developed here thus solidifies the position of methylene blue photochemical decontamination as an important tool in the package of practical pandemic preparedness.

Survey of Cloud Computing in Healthcare Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
S. Karthiga Devi ◽  
B. Arputhamary
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Cloud Infrastructure ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Healthcare Data ◽  
Number Of Patients

Today the volume of healthcare data generated increased rapidly because of the number of patients in each hospital increasing.  These data are most important for decision making and delivering the best care for patients. Healthcare providers are now faced with collecting, managing, storing and securing huge amounts of sensitive protected health information. As a result, an increasing number of healthcare organizations are turning to cloud based services. Cloud computing offers a viable, secure alternative to premise based healthcare solutions. The infrastructure of Cloud is characterized by a high volume storage and a high throughput. The privacy and security are the two most important concerns in cloud-based healthcare services. Healthcare organization should have electronic medical records in order to use the cloud infrastructure. This paper surveys the challenges of cloud in healthcare and benefits of cloud techniques in health care industries.

COVID-19: The Importance of Adequate Personal Protective Equipment in Healthcare Medical Staff

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Weissenstein
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
And Control

We present an update on infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in healthcare settings. This update focuses on measures to be applied in settings with increasing community transmission, growing demand for concern about COVID-19 patients, and subsequent staffing issues in the event of shortages of personal protective equipment for healthcare facilities worldwide. The comfort and emotional resilience of health care workers are key components in maintaining essential health care services during the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) outbreak.

scholarly journals Infection control practices and challenges in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicentre cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110127
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Faisal Sultan
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
And Control

Background: Patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities during outbreaks hinges on a prompt infection prevention and control response. Physicians leading these programmes have encountered numerous obstacles during the pandemic. Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate infection prevention and control practices and explore the challenges in Pakistan during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and administered a survey to physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes at 18 hospitals in Pakistan. Results: All participants implemented universal masking, limited the intake of patients and designated separate triage areas, wards and intensive care units for coronavirus disease 2019 patients at their hospitals. Eleven (61%) physicians reported personal protective equipment shortages. Staff at three (17%) hospitals worked without the appropriate personal protective equipment due to limited supplies. All participants felt overworked and 17 (94%) reported stress. Physicians identified the lack of negative pressure rooms, fear and anxiety among hospital staff, rapidly evolving guidelines, personal protective equipment shortages and opposition from hospital staff regarding the choice of recommended personal protective equipment as major challenges during the pandemic. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the challenges faced by physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes in Pakistan. It is essential to support infection prevention and control personnel and bridge the identified gaps to ensure patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities.

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