Preventing Transmission of Pandemic Influenza and Other Viral Respiratory Diseases Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Personnel: Update 2010 (2011) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 15-28
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From page 15... ...
This current report comes at a time when controversies continue on issues related to PPE for healthcare personnel while new horizons in PPE research and attention to PPE innovations offer promise for improvements in healthcare worker safety. Keeping the research momentum moving forward is critical, because between pandemics the focus of research efforts often moves to other issues and the nation remains underprepared.
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From page 16... ...
The committee was asked to focus specifically on the following areas: • research needed to understand and improve the efficacy and ef fectiveness of personal protective equipment, particularly face masks and respirators for preventing transmission of pandemic influenza or other viral respiratory infections. Specific attention was sought on issues related to the research needed to determine the type of respiratory protection needed for the given exposure, to determine the requirements for protective ensembles to pro vide an appropriate level of protection based on work tasks, and to improve functionality and address human factor issues, such as wearability, compliance, and communications; • necessary certification, testing, and standards development is sues; and • priorities and resources for research and certification efforts.
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From page 17... ...
The term "personal protective equipment" encompasses the specialized clothing or equipment worn by workers for protection against health and safety hazards. Specific types of PPE are selected based on the occupational hazard faced in specific work tasks or sites.
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From page 18... ...
To be effective, respirators must fit tightly to the face. Annual fit testing for respirators is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
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From page 19... ...
Measures to prevent transmission of influenza or other viral respiratory diseases to healthcare personnel include all levels of hazard controls. PPE, along with vaccination and antiviral medications, are components of an overall infection prevention and control program that uses engineering, administrative, and work practice controls.
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From page 20... ...
, the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, in conjunction with the external Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) , develops infection control guidance for healthcare settings (CDC, 2010c)
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From page 21... ...
For healthcare personnel, several aspects of the job provide challenges for designing and wearing 4 As noted in the 2008 report, PPE products that assert protection against a specific health hazard must have FDA approval or market clearance. Other PPE products sold in the commercial marketplace do not have requirements stipulating premarket or other testing prior to their sale to the public.
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From page 22... ...
Because most types of PPE work by acting as a barrier to hazardous agents, healthcare personnel face challenges posed by barrier materials, including having difficulties in verbal communications and interactions with patients and family members, maintaining tactile sensitivity through gloves, and addressing physiological burdens. Some types of PPE are used routinely by clinicians as part of standard infection control precautions designed to protect both the healthcare professional and the patient from disease acquisition.
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From page 23... ...
In developing the report, the committee considered the issues relevant to the pathogen (virus) , the device, and the worker while realizing it needed to keep in mind the various work tasks of healthcare personnel, the safety culture, and other organizational issues regarding where and how they work, and the broader policy and regulatory issues.
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From page 24... ...
. Other viral respiratory diseases are also a concern for the health and safety of healthcare personnel, ranging from emerging diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
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From page 25... ...
DEFINING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PPE RESEARCH Providing care to ill or injured patients involves a range of potentially hazardous exposures for healthcare personnel. Current infection control precautions address this challenge by providing guidance on PPE and other precautions that varies depending on the mode of transmission of the pathogen.
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From page 26... ...
Chapters 2 to 5 each begin with a short summary of the relevant discussion of the 2008 report, followed by an update of recent research efforts outlining the state of progress in that area, and concluding with the committee's recommendations on research needs and directions. The committee examined four major areas of research: • transmission of influenza and other viral respiratory diseases and the use of PPE in preventing transmission (Chapter 2)
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From page 27... ...
. The report covers PPE issues that are relevant to preventing the transmission of a number of viral respiratory diseases; however, much of the recent research and discussion is focused on influenza and, as a result, influenza is the primary disease discussed in the report.
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From page 28... ...
2008. Preparing for an influenza pandemic: Personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
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