A Personal Respirator to Improve Protection for Healthcare Workers Treating COVID-19 (PeRSo).

ABSTRACT: Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a global pandemic. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect healthcare workers has been a recurrent challenge in terms of global stocks, supply logistics and suitability. In some settings, around 20% of healthcare workers treating COVID-19 cases have become infected, which leads to staff absence at peaks of the pandemic, and in some cases mortality. Methods: To address shortcomings in PPE, we developed a simple powered air purifying respirator, made from inexpensive and widely available components. The prototype was designed to minimize manufacturing complexity so that derivative versions could be developed in low resource settings with minor modification. Results: The "Personal Respirator - Southampton" (PeRSo) delivers High

SUBMITTER: Elkington PT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8757800 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature