Hygienic Assessment of Risks of Thermal Balance Disruption in Medical Laboratory Workers Using Personal Protective Equipment for Biohazards

2021 ◽  
pp. 31-36
Author(s):  
VV Shkarin ◽  
NI Latyshevskaya ◽  
DV Orlov ◽  
BN Filatov ◽  
TV Zhukova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Thermal State ◽  
Thermal Balance ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Heat Sensation ◽  
Laboratory Workers ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Thermoregulatory Reactions

Introduction: Specifics of activities of medical personnel in different types of laboratories can potentially create working conditions that violate occupational safety and health regulations. Objective: The study aimed to assess health risks of thermal balance disruption in PCR laboratory staff wearing personal protective equipment for biohazards in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in winter 2020–2021 in PCR laboratories of the Volgograd Region. It included measurements of laboratory microclimate parameters, such as relative humidity, air temperature and velocity, used to estimate the heat load index. An observation cohort of 31 female medical laboratory workers aged 32.48 ± 1.45 years with a three to nine months experience of work in the PCR laboratory was formed to monitor the thermal state at the start and end of the work shift by measuring skin temperature at five points, sublingual temperature, and heat sensation. The results of measurements were used to estimate the mean skin temperature and heart rate while the dynamics of work ability was assessed by the results of contact tremorometry. Results: We established a significant increase in all measured values. The mean skin temperature at the end of the shift reached 33.85 ± 0.24 °C, thus exceeding the upper limit of the permissible value. The heart rate and heat sensation parameters approached the upper values of the maximum permissible thermal state of a person. Contact tremorometry results indicated a decrease in the performance by the end of the work shift. The findings gave evidence of tension of thermoregulatory reactions and the risk of thermal balance disruption posed by the use of a specific type of personal protective equipment in the PCR laboratory. Conclusion: The research results provide strong support for the conclusion that the use of PPE for biohazards poses a risk of thermal balance disruption in medical laboratory personnel. The severity of stress of thermoregulatory reactions depends on technical and design characteristics of the PPE used. The necessity of a physiological and hygienic substantiation of acceptable duration of work of medical workers wearing various types of PPE for biohazards in PCR laboratories justifies the importance of further studies.

scholarly journals Awareness of Personal Protective Equipment Among Laboratory Workers in Tertiary Health Centre, Ibadan

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-21
Author(s):  
Abimbola Amoo ◽  
Christiana Ezoke
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
P Value ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Laboratory Workers ◽  
Healthcare Associated

Introduction Health care personnel are exposed to a variety of material occupational health hazards while handling biological material and contaminated equipment. The use of appropriate and good qualitypersonal protective equipment in work places cannot be over emphasized. Several years ago, this need was highlighted to several physicians like Sir Thomas Morrison Legye. He identified the role of the employer of labour and those of the employee in reducing workplace hazards and consequently achieving a healthy workplace environment. Objectives This study was to determine level of awareness and utilization of Personal Protective Equipment among Medical Laboratory workers. Methods A questionnaire was structured with two sections and a total of 92 were administered. A pilot study was also carried out before the administration of the questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed on Microsoft excel spreadsheet in duplicate. It was then exported into EPI info version 3.4.1. Data was presented using frequency tables and chi square. Results About 77.3%, 72.9%, and 72.7% were aware of the use of goggle, gloves, and importance of hand washing in preventing exposure to Healthcare associated infections while working on patients’ samples. However, under the socio- demographic characteristics of the respondents and awareness level at P-value < 0.5 the results were 0.02. 0.5, 0.85, 0.92 for education, gender, years in service and age respectively. Hence, there is no significant relationship between respondents’ gender, age and year in service, and level of awareness. Conclusion The hospital management should ensure regular provision and supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure continual usage. Also, regular training and re-training should be conducted to keep the laboratory workers at briefs with latest innovative and benefits of PPE developments to this end.

scholarly journals Stress and Associated Factors among Frontline Healthcare Workers in the COVID-19 Epicenter of Da Nang City, Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7378
Author(s):  
Nhan Phuc Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Duong Dinh Le ◽  
Robert Colebunders ◽  
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽  
Trung Dinh Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Stress Component ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Laboratory Workers ◽  
Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽  
Second Wave

Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in the COVID-19 response have a higher risk of experiencing psychosocial distress amidst the pandemic. Between July and September 2020, a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in Vietnam with Da Nang city being the epicenter. During the outbreak, HCWs were quarantined within the health facilities in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19 to their respective communities. Using the stress component of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), we assessed the level of stress among HCWs in Da Nang city. Between 30 August and 15 September 2020, 746 frontline HCWs were recruited to fill in an online structured questionnaire. Overall, 44.6% of participants experienced increased stress and 18.9% severe or extremely severe stress. In multivariable analysis, increased stress was associated with longer working hours (OR = 1.012; 95% CI: 1.004–1.019), working in health facilities providing COVID-19 treatment (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04–2.39), having direct contact with patients or their bio-samples (physicians, nurses and laboratory workers; OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–1.99), low confidence in the available personal protective equipment (OR = 0.846; 95% CI: 0.744–0.962) and low knowledge on COVID-19 prevention and treatment (OR = 0.853; 95% CI: 0.739–0.986). In conclusion, many frontline HCWs experienced increased stress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Da Nang city. Reducing working time, providing essential personal protective equipment and enhancing the knowledge on COVID-19 will help to reduce this stress. Moreover, extra support is needed for HCWs who are directly exposed to COVID-19 patients.

Mask Acne (Maskne): A New Variant of Acne Mechanica

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1866-1869
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Equipment Usage ◽  
Local Increase ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Acne Mechanica

Mask acne (maskne) is the new variant of acne mechanica, associated with personal protective equipment usage in healthcare workers. Widespread daily use of facial masks for many hours during the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to the development of new acne or exacerbation of the previous acne over the masked area, with a distinct pattern, referred to as the “O” zone area around the mouth. Maskne can be caused by friction, irritation, local increase in skin temperature, and humidity, the same mechanism as observed in acne mechanica. Keywords: Maskne; Pathophysiology; Diagnosis; Treatment; Prevention

scholarly journals The Cupola: An Additional Layer of Protection for Providers Working in the Oropharyngeal Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Villa ◽  
Marlene Grenon
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Additional Layer ◽  
Dental Procedures ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mechanical Barrier

Abstract ObjectivesTo reduce the spread of the infection, especially during aerosol generating procedures, we invented “The Cupola”, a shield that creates a mechanical barrier around the patient’s head and body. With this pilot study we aimed to assess the effectiveness of an additional layer of protection (The Cupola) developed for providers working in the oropharyngeal region.ResultsThe mean number of 0.3 μm particles with no Cupola was 3777 (SD: ±556), with The Cupola was 2068 (SD: ±1468) and with the Cupola and Drape was 2031 (SD: ±1108) (p<0.015). The mean number of 0.5 μm airborne particles with no Cupola was 65 (SD: ±7), with The Cupola was 29 (SD: ±28) and with the Cupola and Drape was 28 (SD: ±23) (p<0.05). Results showed a significant reduction of aerosols generated during simulated dental procedures when the Cupola was used. The Cupola offers an extra layer of protection in addition to the recommended personal protective equipment.

scholarly journals Systematic review and meta-analysis comparing ventilatory support in chemical, biological and radiological emergencies

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Baptista de Souza Borges ◽  
Magali Rezende de Carvalho ◽  
Marcel de Souza Quintana ◽  
Alexandre Barbosa de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
Orotracheal Intubation ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Laryngeal Masks ◽  
Orotracheal Tube ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Meta Analyses

Objective: to compare the mean development time of the techniques of direct laryngoscopy and insertion of supraglottic devices; and to evaluate the success rate in the first attempt of these techniques, considering health professionals wearing specific personal protective equipment (waterproof overalls; gloves; boots; eye protection; mask). Method: meta-analysis with studies from LILACS, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science. The keywords were the following: personal protective equipment; airway management; intubation; laryngeal masks. Results: in the “reduction of the time of the procedures” outcome, the general analysis of the supraglottic devices in comparison with the orotracheal tube initially presented high heterogeneity of the data (I2= 97%). Subgroup analysis had an impact on reducing heterogeneity among the data. The “laryngeal mask as a guide for orotracheal intubation” subgroup showed moderate heterogeneity (I2= 74%). The “2ndgeneration supraglottic devices” subgroup showed homogeneity (I2= 0%). All the meta-analyses favored supraglottic devices. In the “success in the first attempt” outcome, moderate homogeneity was found (I2= 52%), showing a higher proportion of correct answers for supraglottic devices. Conclusion: in the context of chemical, biological or radiological disaster, the insertion of the supraglottic device proved to be faster and more likely to be successful by health professionals. PROSPERO record (CRD42019136139).

scholarly journals Forecast predictions for the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil by statistical modeling using the Weibull distribution for daily new cases and deaths

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitor Hugo Moreau
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Weibull Distribution ◽  
Statistical Modeling ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Total Death ◽  
The Mean

Abstract COVID-19 has killed more than 330.000 people worldwide and more than 21,000 Brazilians. Since there are no specific drugs or vaccines, the available tools against COVID-19 are preventive, such as the use of personal protective equipment, social distancing, lockdowns and mass testing. Such measures are hindered in Brazil due to a restrict budget, low educational level of the population and misleading attitudes from the federal authorities. Predictions for COVID-19 are of pivotal importance to subsidize and mobilize health authorities’ efforts in applying the necessary preventive strategies. The Weibull distribution was used to model the forecast prediction of COVID-19, in four scenarios, based on the curve of daily new deaths as a function of time. The date in which the number of daily new deaths will fall below the rate of 3 deaths per million, the mean level considered by some countries to relax stay-at-home measures, was estimated. If the daily new deaths curve was bended today (i. e. about 1,250 deaths per day), the predicted date would be on June 18th. Analysis of the lethality rate allowed the estimation of daily new cases and total death toll at the end of the outbreak. Our results suggest that each additional day that lasts to bend the daily new deaths curve can correspond to additional 3,718 deaths at the end of COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil (R2 = 0.9938). Predictions of the outbreak can be used to guide Brazilian health authorities in the decision making to properly fight COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals The Cupola: an additional layer of protection for providers working in the oropharyngeal region

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Villa ◽  
Marlene Grenon
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Additional Layer ◽  
Dental Procedures ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mechanical Barrier

Abstract Objectives To reduce the spread of the infection, especially during aerosol generating procedures, we invented “The Cupola”, a shield that creates a mechanical barrier around the patient’s head and body. With this pilot study we aimed to assess the effectiveness of an additional layer of protection (The Cupola) developed for providers working in the oropharyngeal region. Results The mean number of 0.3 μm particles with no Cupola was 3777 (SD: ± 556), with The Cupola was 2068 (SD: ± 1468) and with the Cupola and Drape was 2031 (SD: ± 1108) (p < 0.015). The mean number of 0.5 μm airborne particles with no Cupola was 65 (SD: ± 7), with The Cupola was 29 (SD: ± 28) and with the Cupola and Drape was 28 (SD: ± 23) (p < 0.05). Results showed a significant reduction of aerosols generated during simulated dental procedures when the Cupola was used. The Cupola offers an extra layer of protection in addition to the recommended personal protective equipment.

scholarly journals EP.FRI.221Safe delivery of emergency laparotomy using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam O'Connor ◽  
Jayne Bennett ◽  
Imran Alam
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Cerebrovascular Accident ◽  
Emergency Laparotomy ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Acute Cerebrovascular Accident ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Timely Access ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Operating Surgeon

Abstract Aims To evaluate emergency laparotomies and examine operating surgeon use of PPE as per guidelines in the first COVID-19 peak. Methods The NELA database for our hospital was interrogated to examine for emergency laparotomy cases between March to September 2020. Data was recorded on age, pathology, NELA mortality score, post-operative destination, mortality COVID-19 swab status as an inpatient and use of PPE. Results 55 laparotomies were undertaken. The median age was 67 years. 48% had a Clinical Frailty Score &gt;4. 53% of patients were 'high-risk' in their NELA mortality score (&gt;5%). 56% were ASA &gt;3. 44% went to intensive care post-operatively. 18% and 36% had significant cardiac and respiratory co-morbidities. The mean NELA mortality score was 10% pre-operatively. Mean post-operative risk of mortality score was 67%. Only 1 patient contracted COVID-19 whilst an inpatient and subsequently died of acute cerebrovascular accident unrelated to her COVID-19. PPE was available and used as per guidelines in all cases. Conclusions Our department remained busy throughout the first peak however there was a reduction in cases compared with 2019. Our population is generally heavily co-morbid based on ASA scores and cardiorespiratory co-morbidity. Nevertheless only 1 patient contracted COVID whilst an inpatient in this cohort. Access to adequate amounts of personal protective equipment is paramount to ensure safe and timely access to emergency laparotomy for patients and surgeons alike.

scholarly journals Comparative physiological and hygienic assessment of the personal protective equipment EP-4(0) in the various assembly according to human thermal state indices

2021 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-233
Author(s):  
Olga V. Burmistrova ◽  
Sergey Yu. Perov ◽  
Tatyana A. Konshina
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Thermal State ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
The Impact

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.

The effects of firefighting boots and personal protective equipment load on foot thermal comfort

2021 ◽  
pp. 004051752110265
Author(s):  
Miao Tian ◽  
Xianghui Zhang ◽  
Xumei Tang
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Human Foot ◽  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Psychological Scales

Maintaining foot comfort is important as it influences the overall comfort of the human body. Shoe microclimate and foot skin temperature have been suggested to contribute to the thermal sensation of the foot. Considering the thermal environment and personal protective equipment (PPE) used for structural and proximity firefighting, climatic chamber tests with 13 male participants were conducted during standing and walking. Four test conditions – unloaded with training shoes, loaded with training shoes, unloaded with firefighting boots, and loaded with firefighting boots – were designed to investigate the effects of firefighting boots and PPE load on the thermal comfort of the human foot. Physiological variables of in-shoe and foot skin temperature at the whole and local regions of the foot were measured and subjective responses were gathered using psychological scales. The results showed that wearing firefighting boots may elevate the thermal sensation of wearers. The PPE load increased the in-shoe and foot skin temperature as well as subjective ratings. Subjective sensations of the foot were strongly correlated with in-shoe and skin temperature in the plantar regions. Correlation analysis of thermal sensation at the whole and local foot regions indicated that the sensation at the forefoot was closest to the whole foot, followed by the midfoot and heel. The findings address the relationship of physiological and subjective variables as well as the thermal sensation of whole and local foot regions, which can be considered for footwear design and thermal comfort prediction of the foot and whole body.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document