Healthcare personnel exposure in an emergency department during influenza season.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Healthcare personnel are at high risk for exposure to influenza by direct and indirect contact, droplets and aerosols, and by aerosol generating procedures. Information on air and surface influenza contamination is needed to assist in developing guidance for proper prevention and control strategies. To understand the vulnerabilities of healthcare personnel, we measured influenza in the breathing zone of healthcare personnel, in air and on surfaces within a healthcare setting, and on filtering facepiece respirators worn by healthcare personnel when conducting patient care.

Methods

Thirty participants were recruited from an adult emergency department during the 2015 influenza season. Participants wore personal bioaerosol samplers for six hours of their work shift,

SUBMITTER: Rule AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6118374 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature