Features of the thermal state of medical workers when using personal protective equipment against biological factors

Author(s):  
Alexey V. Konyukhov ◽  
Andrey M. Geregei ◽  
Vladislav I. Lemeshko

Introduction. Biological personal protective equipment (PPE) is currently in particular demand, primarily when working with patients with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Many materials used in the manufacture of such PPE have low air and vapor permeability, which ultimately can contribute to overheating of the body even in a comfortable temperature environment. The aim of study - physiological and hygienic assessment of the thermal state of the body of medical workers dressed in PPE from biological factors during the working day. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of an infectious hospital clinic of the FSBSI "Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health" during the COVID-19 epidemic on practically healthy volunteers: orderlies, nurses and doctors, who during the study performed their duties in the "infectious" zone. Results. The volunteers were equipped with sensors that measure the temperature of the skin and body, heart rate and humidity of the underwear. The indicators obtained during the experiment were evaluated in accordance with the current regulatory documentation. Conclusion. The data obtained as a result of the study showed an increase in most of the criteria indicators of the thermal state of the body of medical workers, which made it possible to assess the intensity of the thermal state of medical personnel.

2021 ◽  
pp. 152-161
Author(s):  
A.B. Yudin ◽  
◽  
M.V. Kaltygin ◽  
E.A. Konovalov ◽  
A.A. Vlasov ◽  
...  

Personal protective equipment has become the last line of protection for medical personnel during the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection since it allows minimizing risks of biological contagion. Given the existing staffing shortage, medical workers have to spend from 4 to 12 hours a day in the “red zone” where they necessarily wear personal protective equipment. Protective clothing is known to produce negative effects on functional state of the body and personnel’s working capacities. Assessment of up-to-date protective suits will allow developing recommendations on their suitable application bearing in mind a balance between necessary protection, providing favorable ergonomics, and reducing risks of adverse effects on functional state and working capacities. Our research aim was to hygienically assess health risks for medical workers who had to wear reusable protective suits. Our research object was a reusable suit made from polyether fabric with polyurethane membrane coating and antistatic threads. We performed an experiment aimed at evaluating thermal state of the body, psychophysiological state, and responses by the volunteers’ cardiorespiratory system in laboratory conditions during an 80 hour working shift under controlled microclimate. Participants in the experiment were questioned in order to assess suits’ ergonomics. Heat exchange dynamics and amount of changes in thermal physiological parameters caused by wearing a protective suit determined heat contents of volunteers’ bodies that conformed to optimal standard values. Data on psychophysiological and mental state taken in research dynamics didn’t have any statistically significant changes. Gas exchange indicators naturally grew during the “load” phase; however, there were no significant changes detected in any phase in the research. Hygienic assessment of the thermal state, functional state of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and psychophysio-logical indicators confirmed that wearing a protective suit was quite safe and didn’t involve any health risks for volunteers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-233
Author(s):  
Olga V. Burmistrova ◽  
Sergey Yu. Perov ◽  
Tatyana A. Konshina

Introduction. The article presents results of the study of the impact of the personal protective equipment EP-4 (0) in various assembly (overalls, jacket and trousers, jacket and semi-overall) from power frequency electric field and electrical shock on the thermal state of workers in a heating environment at air temperature 34.8 ○C and relative humidity 48%. Materials and methods. The study involved three men aged 35.3±4.6 years. They did the physical exercise for 40 minutes, had comfortable relaxation for 30 minutes after work. Recorded indices included skin temperature and moisture sensation score on 11 parts of the body, body temperature in the ear canal, heart rate, clothes temperature, heat sensation score, moisture loss, moisture evaporation efficiency. Results. Overalls using had the highest values of heat content, moisture score, heart rate changes, and body temperature increment. Heat content index in the body reached maximum permissible value using overalls earlier than other configurations. Conclusion. The research data showed overalls have the most significant impact on the human thermal state, jacket and trousers have the least impact, jacket and semi-overall take an intermediate place. The configuration including jacket and trousers, jacket and semi-overall under specific operating conditions is the most optimal. Such PPE assembly can be recommended for use in the open area in the summer season at an air temperature of 35 ○C and above, subject to protective requirements.


2020 ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
E. V. Panina ◽  
M. V. Pugachev ◽  
A. G. Shchesiu

The article shows that in the daily activities of nursing staff of functional diagnostics departments (offices), it is necessary to strictly observe the requirements and rules for the prevention of infections associated with medical care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The types of personal protective equipment (PPE) of medical personnel (MP), as well as current effective methods of disinfection, rules for collecting medical waste in a complex epidemiological situation are presented.


Author(s):  
Temirov Nemat Moidunovich ◽  
Mamyrova Kanykey Kanybekovna ◽  
Abdimomunova Begimay Toktobolotovna ◽  
Satybaldieva Ayzirek Topchubaevna ◽  
Zholdoshev Saparbay Tezekbaevich

The commonality of mechanisms and ways of transmission of new coronavirus infection and tuberculosis increases the risk of spreading pathogens and determines common preventive approaches. The aim of the work was to assess the effectiveness of preventive and anti-epidemic measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and medical personnel of an antitubercular hospital during the pandemic. Given the specifics of TB hospital developed and implemented a complex of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which includes the identification and isolation of sources of infection, disinfection of air and adequate ventilation, disinfection of surfaces, use of personal protective equipment. The article describes the group morbidity of COVID-19 patients in an antitubercular hospital, which was caused by the introduction of infection into the hospital by patients in the incubation period. Timely measures made it possible to localize the situation and prevent the widespread spread of infection. The complex of measures for the protection of medical personnel has shown its high efficiency, which was manifested in the absence of cases of illness of personnel working in the «red zone». The absence of a consistent epidemic spread of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 among patients and hospital staff of the R.G. Bauer Jalal-Abad Regional Tuberculosis Control Center allows us to use the described experience of conducting preventive and anti-epidemic measures in medical organizations of this type.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Evgenia Dvoryankova ◽  

COVID-19 pandemic posed a number of new formidable challenges to medical community. Dermatologists have not only to detect, define and reverse the new coronavirus infection cutaneus manifestations, but also to provide medical assistance to colleagues with occupational dermatitis due to personal protective equipment use. Moreover, it is necessary to provide quality medical care to patients with acute and chronic dermatosis given the limitations of present pandemic situation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1356-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linh T. Phan ◽  
Dagmar Sweeney ◽  
Dayana Maita ◽  
Donna C. Moritz ◽  
Susan C. Bleasdale ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack B. Anon ◽  
Carter Denne ◽  
Darcy Rees

Objectives The primary objective of this study was to compare the protection afforded by a standard face shield design with a new enhanced design in a controlled setting. Methods This study was exempted from review by institutional review board waiver. A flexible fiberoptic endoscopy was placed through stellate openings in the standard face shield and the enhanced face shield. A series of simulated coughs were created with bursts of fluorescein dye through an atomizer tip placed within the test participant’s mouth. Ultraviolet lighting illuminated the test area, and areas of dye splatter were noted. Results Fluorescein dye is easily aerosolized along the lateral inferior aspect of a standard shield with significant contamination of the surrounds. The enhanced face shield maintained a barrier to the aerosolized dye. Discussion Face shields, rather than face masks, should be considered a preferred alternative for the public and for health care professionals alike, as they address many of the personal protective equipment concerns especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Otolaryngologists are at high risk from aerosol-generating procedures, such as flexible fiberoptic endoscopy, even when wearing personal protective equipment. Here we describe a uniquely designed face shield to be worn by the patient as another layer of protection for the environment and for medical personnel. Implications for Practice During the course of a flexible fiberoptic endoscopy, medical personnel are safely isolated from potential infectious particles with a newly designed face shield.


2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 05-11
Author(s):  
Shweta Panse ◽  
Muralidhar Kanchi ◽  
Jose Chacko ◽  
Srinath Kumar T. S. ◽  
Ranganatha Ramanjaneya ◽  
...  

AbstractThe coronavirus pandemic has become a challenge to all the healthcare systems in the world. Urgent creation of an intensive care unit (ICU) for the same is the need of the hour. The ideal ICU for COVID -19 should be isolated, fully equipped with invasive and noninvasive monitoring, with 24/7 trained medical personnel, nursing staff and laboratory support. As the coronavirus infection is transmitted by droplets and is highly contagious, protection of healthcare workers is crucial. Personnel working inside the ICU should get personal protective equipment (PPE). Strict guidelines for donning and doffing of PPE should be followed to prevent cross-contamination. Respiratory failure being the commonest complication of COVID-19, knowing the ventilator management for the same is essential. It is of great importance to meticulously manage all the resources to combat this contagion.


Author(s):  
Behnoush JAFARI ◽  
Bahram KOUHNAVARD ◽  
Mohammadreza NAJIMI ◽  
Fereshteh JAHANI ◽  
Zeinab MOSAVIAN ASL

Introduction: The working conditions, type of activity, and production or consumption of different materials expose the employees to harmful biological factors, which leads to infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the harmful biological agents of the work environment among administrative personnel of a power plant in south of Iran. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 administrative workers of different sections of power plant in 2016. The participants used personal protective equipment and samples were collected from five parts of the participants' body including auricle, inside the ear, the area between the toes, palm of foot, toe nails. Finally, 1000 samples were collected. Results: The mean age of the workers was  years and all participants were male. Of the 1000 samples cultivated in the laboratory, 192 (96%) people had negative and 8 (4%) had positive culture results. The results showed that auricle had the highest rate of opportunistic pathogenic fungi (87.5%). The most positive cases of opportunistic pathogens were associated with workshops, warehouses, and operational buildings. Conclusion: Regarding the results of the study, we need to implement more health care in the mentioned places, observe personal hygiene in keeping the feet dry, not using protective handsets (air plug and earmuff) of other people, disinfecting the personal protective equipment, and daily washing to prevent the spread of the disease to other people.


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