6533b7dbfe1ef96bd12714ba

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Personal protective equipment and intensive care unit healthcare worker safety in the COVID-19 era (PPE-SAFE): An international survey

Luigi ComporotaKarin AmreinAndrea CortegianiKevin B. LauplandGuy FrancoisAlexis TabahAlexis TabahJohannes MellinghoffNiccolò BuettiNiccolò BuettiGabriela VidalAndrew Conway MorrisPedro PóvoaNathalie ZappellaMuhammed ElhadiMatteo BassettiJan J. De WaeleMahesh RamananMahesh RamananLennie P. G. DerdeNathalie Ssi Yan Kai

subject

Face shieldMalebusiness.product_categoryHot TemperatureInfectious Disease TransmissionAllied Health PersonnelNursesCritical Care and Intensive Care MedicineOccupational safety and healthlaw.inventionPatient-to-Professional0302 clinical medicinelawSurveys and QuestionnairesPersonal protective equipmentHealth careMedicine and Health SciencesViralRespiratorRespiratory Protective DevicesHealth care workersHealth services researchHeadacheMasksMiddle AgedIntensive care unitEuropeIntensive Care UnitsFemaleSafetyCoronavirus InfectionsEye Protective DevicesThirstAdultmedicine.medical_specialtyCOVID-19; Health care workers; Intensive care; Personal protective equipment; Safety; Adult; Africa; Allied Health Personnel; Asia; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Europe; Eye Protective Devices; Female; Gloves Protective; Headache; Hot Temperature; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission Patient-to-Professional; Intensive Care Units; Male; Masks; Middle Aged; North America; Nurses; Oceania; Pandemics; Personal Protective Equipment; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; Physicians; Pneumonia Viral; Respiratory Protective Devices; SARS-CoV-2; South America; Surgical Attire; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thirst; Health Personnel; Occupational HealthInfectious Disease Transmission Patient-to-ProfessionalAsiaHealth PersonnelPneumonia ViralGlovesOceaniaPersonnel Staffing and SchedulingArticle03 medical and health sciencesBetacoronavirusIntensive carePhysiciansmedicineHumansSurgical AttirePersonal protective equipmentPandemicsOccupational Healthbusiness.industrySARS-CoV-2COVID-19030208 emergency & critical care medicinePneumoniaSouth AmericaProtective030228 respiratory systemCOVID-19Personal protective equipmentSafety Health care workersIntensive careIntensive careEmergency medicineAfricaNorth AmericabusinessGloves Protective

description

Purpose To survey healthcare workers (HCW) on availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) caring for COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and method A web-based survey distributed worldwide in April 2020. Results We received 2711 responses from 1797 (67%) physicians, 744 (27%) nurses, and 170 (6%) Allied HCW. For routine care, most (1557, 58%) reportedly used FFP2/N95 masks, waterproof long sleeve gowns (1623; 67%), and face shields/visors (1574; 62%). Powered Air-Purifying Respirators were used routinely and for intubation only by 184 (7%) and 254 (13%) respondents, respectively. Surgical masks were used for routine care by 289 (15%) and 47 (2%) for intubations. At least one piece of standard PPE was unavailable for 1402 (52%), and 817 (30%) reported reusing single-use PPE. PPE was worn for a median of 4 h (IQR 2, 5). Adverse effects of PPE were associated with longer shift durations and included heat (1266, 51%), thirst (1174, 47%), pressure areas (1088, 44%), headaches (696, 28%), Inability to use the bathroom (661, 27%) and extreme exhaustion (492, 20%). Conclusions HCWs reported widespread shortages, frequent reuse of, and adverse effects related to PPE. Urgent action by healthcare administrators, policymakers, governments and industry is warranted.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2020-10-01Journal of Critical Care
10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.06.005http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7293450