scholarly journals A Study on Selecting Personal Protective Equipment for Listed Hazardous Chemicals (1): Analysis of Hazard Ranks and Workplace Exposure Risks

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 419-429
Author(s):  
Don-Hee Han ◽  
Sang-Tae Chung ◽  
Jong-Il Kim ◽  
Yong-Sung Cho ◽  
Chung-Soo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Hazardous Chemicals ◽  
Workplace Exposure ◽  
Exposure Risks

SARS-COV-2 SEROPREVALENCE AMONG EMERGENCY PROVIDERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

2021 ◽  
pp. 85-86
Author(s):  
Tuong Pham ◽  
Michael Doctor ◽  
Ryliezl Abby Reyes ◽  
Caroline Runco ◽  
Alberto Hazan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Exposure Risks ◽  
Testing Site ◽  
Elevated Exposure

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have elevated exposure risks to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, there is limited published information regarding the transmission rate and the seroconversion among HCWs. The goals of this study are to determine the seroprevalence among emergency providers and the correlation between working hours and utilization of personal protective equipment with the likelihood of seroconversion. Methods: This prospective study evaluated Emergency Department physicians and advanced practice providers, who had been tested for SARSCoV-2 IgG serology, at 10 different hospitals in the location area. An anonymous survey was sent to the Emergency Department providers via email inquiring about the following: results of serology and/or nasopharyngeal testing, the testing site used, the presence or absence of COVID-19 symptoms, utilization of personal protective equipment (PPEs), exposure to potential COVID-19 patients, and average clinical hours since March. Results: 43 participants responded to the survey. 3 had positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody or viral tests indicating exposures to COVID-19 despite utilization of various types of PPE. There was a surprisingly high number of HCWs treating known/suspected COVID-19 patients without proper PPE (18.6%). 21 (48.8%) HCWs routinely wore an N-95 mask, 11 (25.6%) used a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), 6 (14%) wore surgical masks, and 5 (11.6%) used elastomeric face respirators. None of the COVID-19 positive HCWs used a PAPR while treating known or suspected COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Our knowledge regarding the complications related to SARS-CoV-2 infection post-acute phase remains limited. Our data suggest PAPR use may be protective compared to other PPE modalities. There can be unanticipated long-term morbidities that result from an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, frontline HCWs, who have an inherently elevated exposure to this virus, must use PPE and maintain vigilance while treating patients, regardless of the presence of COVID-19 symptoms.

scholarly journals Nosocomial Rabies Encephalitis: Lessons Learned From Exposures in a Large Healthcare System

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s331-s332
Author(s):  
Kristin Dascomb ◽  
Karen Singson ◽  
Cherie Frame ◽  
Sharon Petersen ◽  
Isabel Pande ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Index Patient ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Electronic Screening ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Exposure Risks

Background: In October 2018 a patient presented to hospital A’s emergency department (ED) for a work injury, arm spasms, and inability to drink liquids. He developed rapid neurologic decline and was transferred to hospital B for neurocritical care. He developed a fever, was intubated, and had an unrevealing infectious diseases (ID) consultation. He became comatose, had refractory seizures, and was transferred to hospital C. A second ID consultation revealed that he had many bats in his home, and his symptoms were consistent with rabies encephalitis. Antemortem specimens of serum, CSF, skin biopsy, and saliva were all positive for rabies virus PCR, and/or rabies serologies. Objective: We describe the response of a multihospital system to the exposure of employees across 3 facilities to rabies-infected body fluids. Methods: Three hospitals in 1 system (222 caregivers) cared for the index patient (hospital A, n = 8; hospital B, n = 107; hospital C, n = 107; 19 students and residents), as did 2 additional facilities outside the system. These included physicians (n = 21), registered nurses (n = 57), respiratory therapists (n = 29), imaging technicians (n = 24), phlebotomists (n = 12), laboratorians (n = 8) and others (n = 71). Infection prevention, employee health, and pharmacy leadership created a centralized team to ensure that all exposed caregivers were screened, and if exposed, were vaccinated. An electronic screening tool developed and administered by the Utah Department of Health via Research Electronic Data Capture (Redcap), rapidly assessed caregiver body fluid exposure risks (saliva, tears, neurologic tissue), and use of personal protective equipment in patient care. After completion, caregivers received notification that he or she (1) had no exposure (no further action), (2) had exposure and should report to employee health for vaccination, or (3) had unclear exposure and should contact the employee health department. Results: Caregivers feared that the tool underestimated exposure risk. Many caregivers (n = 48), repeated the assessment more than once, changing answers. The most common reasons cited were incomplete forms (n = 21), caregiver did not recall using personal protective equipment with contact with saliva (n = 8) or did not understand rabies transmission (n = 3). All vaccinations were initiated by 11 of 26 care givers, 18 days after initial deployment of the tool. All exposed caregivers completed the course. No caregivers developed symptoms of rabies encephalitis. Conclusions: An online tool can safely assess large healthcare exposure such as rabies. A team comprising infection preventionists, employee health representatives, pharmacists, and public health department representatives made the assessment of many geographically dispersed caregivers rapid and effective. Caregivers should employ the basic tenets of standard precautions in the daily care of patients to avoid unknown exposures to common bodily fluids.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: An International Survey in April 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (04) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz S. Freudenberg ◽  
Ulf Dittmer ◽  
Ken Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Public Versus Private ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments. Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020. Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment. Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.

Infectious safety of nursing staff in departments (offices) functional diagnostics in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
E. V. Panina ◽  
M. V. Pugachev ◽  
A. G. Shchesiu
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Medical Waste ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Functional Diagnostics ◽  
Prevention Of Infections ◽  
Epidemiological Situation

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.

Recomendações de equipamentos de proteção individual no combate ao COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (31) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Nicole Maria Miyamoto Bettini ◽  
Fabiana Tomé Ramos ◽  
Priscila Masquetto Vieira de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

A Organização Mundial da Saúde - OMS confirmou a circulação internacional do novo Coronavírus em janeiro de 2020, nomeando-o como COVID-19 e, declarando uma pandemia. É de extrema importância que durante a pandemia, os profissionais de saúde tenham acesso e conhecimento sobre o uso correto dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) e suas indicações, tomando assim, as devidas precauções na prevenção de infecções. O presente estudo buscou identificar a padronização mundial quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a pacientes suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19 no Brasil, EUA, China, Espanha, Itália e demais países europeus. Os guidelines apresentam a padronização quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19, indo ao encontro das recomendações fornecidas pela OMS. Até o momento, o uso de EPIs é sem dúvida a estratégia mais importante e eficaz para proteger os profissionais de saúde durante a assistência ao paciente com COVID-19.Descritores: Infecções por Coronavírus, Equipamento de Proteção Individual, Pessoal de Saúde, Enfermagem. Recommendations for personal protective equipment to combat COVID-19Abstract: The World Health Organization - WHO confirmed the international circulation of the new Coronavirus in January 2020, naming it as COVID-19 and declaring a pandemic. It is extremely important that during the pandemic, health professionals have access and knowledge about the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its indications, thus taking appropriate precautions to prevent infections. The present study sought to identify the worldwide standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, USA, China, Spain, Italy and other European countries. The guidelines present a standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed with COVID-19, in line with the recommendations provided by WHO. To date, the use of PPE is undoubtedly the most important and effective strategy to protect healthcare professionals during care for patients with COVID-19.Descriptors: Coronavirus Infections, Personal Protective Equipment, Health Personnel, Nursing. Recomendaciones para el equipo de protección personal para combatir COVID-19Resumen: La Organización Mundial de la Salud - La OMS confirmó la circulación internacional del nuevo Coronavirus en enero de 2020, nombrándolo COVID-19 y declarando una pandemia. Es extremadamente importante que durante la pandemia, los profesionales de la salud tengan acceso y conocimiento sobre el uso correcto del Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) y sus indicaciones, tomando así las precauciones adecuadas para prevenir infecciones. El presente estudio buscó identificar la estandarización mundial con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para atender a pacientes sospechosos y/o confirmados con COVID-19 en Brasil, Estados Unidos, China, España, Italia y otros países europeos. Las pautas presentan la estandarización con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para cuidar COVID-19 sospechoso y/o confirmado, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones proporcionadas por la OMS. Hasta la fecha, el uso de EPP es, sin duda, la estrategia más importante y efectiva para proteger a los profesionales de la salud durante la atención de pacientes con COVID-19.Descriptores: Infecciones por Coronavirus, Equipo de Protección Personal, Personal de Salud, Enfermería.

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