Performance and impact of disposable and reusable respirators for healthcare workers during pandemic respiratory disease: a rapid evidence review.
Occup Environ Med
; 78(9): 679-690, 2021 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1362002
Preprint
This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
See preprint
This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
See preprint
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To synthesise evidence concerning the range of filtering respirators suitable for patient care and guide the selection and use of different respirator types.DESIGN:
Comparative analysis of international standards for respirators and rapid review of their performance and impact in healthcare. DATA SOURCES Websites of international standards organisations, Medline and Embase, hand-searching of references and citations. STUDY SELECTION Studies of healthcare workers (including students) using disposable or reusable respirators with a range of designs. We examined respirator performance, clinician adherence and performance, comfort and impact, and perceptions of use.RESULTS:
We included standards from eight authorities across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australasia and 39 research studies. There were four main findings. First, international standards for respirators apply across workplace settings and are broadly comparable across jurisdictions. Second, effective and safe respirator use depends on proper fitting and fit testing. Third, all respirator types carry a burden to the user of discomfort and interference with communication which may limit their safe use over long periods; studies suggest that they have little impact on specific clinical skills in the short term but there is limited evidence on the impact of prolonged wearing. Finally, some clinical activities, particularly chest compressions, reduce the performance of filtering facepiece respirators.CONCLUSION:
A wide range of respirator types and models is available for use in patient care during respiratory pandemics. Careful consideration of performance and impact of respirators is needed to maximise protection of healthcare workers and minimise disruption to care.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ventilators, Mechanical
/
Equipment Reuse
/
Disposable Equipment
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Occup Environ Med
Journal subject:
Occupational Medicine
/
Environmental Health
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Oemed-2020-107058
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