The dangers of reused personal protective equipment: healthcare workers and workstation contamination.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to protect healthcare workers (HCWs). The practice of reusing PPE poses high levels of risk for accidental contamination by HCWs. Scarce medical literature compares practical means or methods for safe reuse of PPE while actively caring for patients.

Methods

In this study, observations were made of 28 experienced clinical participants performing five donning and doffing encounters while performing simulated full evaluations of patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Participants' N95 respirators were coated with a fluorescent dye to evaluate any accidental fomite transfer that occurred during PPE donning and doffing. Participants were evaluated using blacklight after each doffing encounter to evaluate new contaminati

SUBMITTER: Doos D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9172254 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature