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BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the biggest health crises in the world and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is significant measures to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, PPE needs to be used properly by healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the use of PPE among Brazilian health professionals and associated factors during a period of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out from October to December 2020. For data collection, the respondent-driven sampling technique was used, adapted for social media, with a link to an online survey form. RESULTS: The study considered 12,086 Brazilian health professionals. Most (69%) used PPE recommended for the care of patients with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19. Factors associated with the use of PPE were: working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or in a field hospital, receiving training, being provided with sufficient, high-quality PPE by the workplace and being an odontologist compared to nursing professionals. For procedures that generate aerosols in the context of COVID-19, 54.1% of them used the recommended PPE, the associated factors were: being married or in a stable relationship compared to a single/divorced professional, working in an ICU, being offered training, providing sufficient, high-quality PPE, and being an odontologist compared to nursing professionals. CONCLUSIONS: For the care of patients with COVID-19, 69% of health professionals used PPE properly, and several factors interfered with the use of this equipment.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Personal Protective Equipment , Brazil/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Health Personnel , Humans , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Pandemics/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Health professionals are on the front lines against the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and are at high risk for acquiring the infection. Failures in precautionary measures, inadequacy/scarcity of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and lack of social and family distancing may be associated with increased exposure and contamination by the new coronavirus. This study investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 among Brazilian health professionals and associated factors according to demographic and occupational characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using an online survey with 12,086 health professionals from all regions of Brazil. Data were collected using an adaptation of the respondent-driven sampling method for the virtual environment. The outcome variable was the diagnosis of COVID-19. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyzes were used to identify an association between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and demographic and occupational variables. Variables were considered statistically significant based on p<0.05. RESULTS: Most participants were female, from the northeast region, and nursing professionals. A prevalence of 31.95% (95%CI: 31.0%, 32.9%) of COVID-19 was estimated. Following multiple regression analysis, the variables associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 among health professionals were: male gender, married individuals, professionals who provide care to patients with COVID-19, who work in a field hospital, and those who work in institutions that did not offer enough quality PPE. CONCLUSIONS: The study found a high prevalence of COVID-19 infection, with male professionals being those with greater chances. Inadequate supply or poor quality of PPE offered by health institutions compromises the health of professionals with an increase in positive diagnosis for COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Brazil/epidemiology , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Personnel , Humans , Male , Pandemics , Personal Protective Equipment , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-COV2, a highly transmissible and pathogenic viral infection, and was identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Three months later, it became a severe pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To identify scientific evidence on the use of face shields by health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic period. METHOD: An integrative literature review of articles obtained from PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science databases was undertaken. For the search, controlled, non-controlled descriptors and specific keywords: "face shield," "fluid resistance procedure," "respiratory infections," "healthcare workers," "COVID-19," "aerosols," and "personal protection infection" were used. RESULTS: The sample comprised seven studies. The available evidence has shown that face shields do not have a defined standard for their production-their effectiveness depends on the quality of the visor, structure, and fixation system. They must be used as adjuvants to other personal protective equipment (PPE), and their isolated use is not recommended due to the fragilities of peripheral face sealing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period. CONCLUSION: Due to the shortage of this equipment, domestic face shields can be indicated if they meet production requirements, based on scientific evidence for their efficient use.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Health Personnel , Humans , Pandemics/prevention & control , Personal Protective Equipment , RNA, Viral , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: to identify scientific evidence on the effectiveness of using cloth masks as safe protectors against COVID-19. Method: an integrative review of articles available in full obtained at PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Controlled, non-controlled descriptors and keywords such as "mask", "home-made"and "cloth"or "cotton"and "infection control"or "infection prevention"were used. Results: thirty-eight articles were selected;of these, seven studies made up the sample. Evidence shows that cloth masks do not have the same protective characteristics as surgical masks, indicating an increased risk of infection due to humidity, diffusion of fluids, virus retention, and improper preparation. Considering the shortage of surgical masks during the pandemic, cloth masks could be proposed as a last resort. Conclusion: cloth masks should be used together with preventive measures, such as home insulation, good respiratory conduct, and regular hand hygiene. RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar evidencia científica sobre la efectividad del uso de mascarillas de tela como un protector seguro contra COVID-19. Método: revisión integradora de artículos disponibles en su totalidad, obtenidos de las bases de datos PubMed, CINAHL y Web of Science. Se utilizaron descriptores controlados y no controlados y palabras clave "mask", "home-made"y "cloth"o "cotton"y "infection control"o "infection prevention". Resultados: se seleccionaron 38 artículos. De estos, siete estudios constituyeron la muestra. La evidencia ha demostrado que las máscaras de tejido no tienen las mismas características protectoras que las máscaras quirúrgicas, lo que indica un mayor riesgo de infección debido a la humedad, la difusión de fluidos, la retención de virus y la preparación inadecuada. Dada la escasez de máscaras quirúrgicas durante la pandemia, podrían proponerse como el último estándar para la población. Conclusión: para la población, las mascarillas de tela deben usarse junto con otras medidas preventivas, como el aislamiento del hogar, la buena etiqueta respiratoria y la higiene regular de las manos. RESUMO Objetivo: identificar evidências científicas sobre a eficácia do uso de máscaras de tecido enquanto protetor seguro contra a COVID-19. Método: revisão integrativa de artigos disponíveis na íntegra, obtidos nas bases PubMed, CINAHL e Web of Science. Foram utilizados descritores controlados, não controlados e palavras-chave "mask", "home-made"e "cloth"ou "cotton"e "infection control"ou "infection prevention". Resultados: foram selecionados 38 artigos. Desses, sete estudos compuseram a amostra. As evidências mostraram que máscaras de tecido não apresentam as mesmas características de proteção quanto às máscaras cirúrgicas, indicando risco de infecção aumentado devido à umidade, difusão de líquidos, retenção do vírus e confecção inadequada. Diante da escassez de máscaras cirúrgicas durante a pandemia, elas poderiam ser propostas como último recurso para a população. Conclusão: para a população, as máscaras de tecido devem ser usadas em conjunto com outras medidas preventivas, como isolamento domiciliar, boa etiqueta respiratória e higiene regular das mãos.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: to identify scientific evidence on the effectiveness of using cloth masks as safe protectors against COVID-19. Method: an integrative review of articles available in full obtained at PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Controlled, non-controlled descriptors and keywords such as "mask", "home-made"and "cloth"or "cotton"and "infection control"or "infection prevention"were used. Results: thirty-eight articles were selected;of these, seven studies made up the sample. Evidence shows that cloth masks do not have the same protective characteristics as surgical masks, indicating an increased risk of infection due to humidity, diffusion of fluids, virus retention, and improper preparation. Considering the shortage of surgical masks during the pandemic, cloth masks could be proposed as a last resort. Conclusion: cloth masks should be used together with preventive measures, such as home insulation, good respiratory conduct, and regular hand hygiene. RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar evidencia científica sobre la efectividad del uso de mascarillas de tela como un protector seguro contra COVID-19. Método: revisión integradora de artículos disponibles en su totalidad, obtenidos de las bases de datos PubMed, CINAHL y Web of Science. Se utilizaron descriptores controlados y no controlados y palabras clave "mask", "home-made"y "cloth"o "cotton"y "infection control"o "infection prevention". Resultados: se seleccionaron 38 artículos. De estos, siete estudios constituyeron la muestra. La evidencia ha demostrado que las máscaras de tejido no tienen las mismas características protectoras que las máscaras quirúrgicas, lo que indica un mayor riesgo de infección debido a la humedad, la difusión de fluidos, la retención de virus y la preparación inadecuada. Dada la escasez de máscaras quirúrgicas durante la pandemia, podrían proponerse como el último estándar para la población. Conclusión: para la población, las mascarillas de tela deben usarse junto con otras medidas preventivas, como el aislamiento del hogar, la buena etiqueta respiratoria y la higiene regular de las manos. RESUMO Objetivo: identificar evidências científicas sobre a eficácia do uso de máscaras de tecido enquanto protetor seguro contra a COVID-19. Método: revisão integrativa de artigos disponíveis na íntegra, obtidos nas bases PubMed, CINAHL e Web of Science. Foram utilizados descritores controlados, não controlados e palavras-chave "mask", "home-made"e "cloth"ou "cotton"e "infection control"ou "infection prevention". Resultados: foram selecionados 38 artigos. Desses, sete estudos compuseram a amostra. As evidências mostraram que máscaras de tecido não apresentam as mesmas características de proteção quanto às máscaras cirúrgicas, indicando risco de infecção aumentado devido à umidade, difusão de líquidos, retenção do vírus e confecção inadequada. Diante da escassez de máscaras cirúrgicas durante a pandemia, elas poderiam ser propostas como último recurso para a população. Conclusão: para a população, as máscaras de tecido devem ser usadas em conjunto com outras medidas preventivas, como isolamento domiciliar, boa etiqueta respiratória e higiene regular das mãos.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: to identify scientific evidence on the effectiveness of using cloth masks as safe protectors against COVID-19. METHOD: an integrative review of articles available in full obtained at PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Controlled, non-controlled descriptors and keywords such as "mask", "home-made" and "cloth" or "cotton" and "infection control" or "infection prevention" were used. RESULTS: thirty-eight articles were selected; of these, seven studies made up the sample. Evidence shows that cloth masks do not have the same protective characteristics as surgical masks, indicating an increased risk of infection due to humidity, diffusion of fluids, virus retention, and improper preparation. Considering the shortage of surgical masks during the pandemic, cloth masks could be proposed as a last resort. CONCLUSION: cloth masks should be used together with preventive measures, such as home insulation, good respiratory conduct, and regular hand hygiene.