Scenarios to Manage the Demand for N95 Respirators for Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy
; 13: 2489-2496, 2020.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-921104
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
By estimating N95 respirator demand based on simulated epidemics, we aim to assist planning efforts requiring estimations of respirator demand for the healthcare system to continue operating safely in the coming months.METHODS:
We assess respiratory needs over the course of mild, moderate and severe epidemic scenarios within Singapore as a case study using a transmission dynamic model. The number of respirators required within the respiratory isolation wards and intensive care units was estimated over the course of the epidemic. We also considered single-use, extended-use and prolonged-use strategies for N95 respirators for use by healthcare workers treating suspected but negative (misclassified) or confirmed COVID-19 patients.RESULTS:
Depending on the confirmed to misclassified case ratio, from 10 to 110, a range of 117.1 million to 1.1 billion masks are required for single-use. This decreases to 71.6-784.4 million for extended-use and 12.8-148.2 million for prolonged-use, representing a 31.8-38.9% and 86.5-89.1% reduction, respectively.CONCLUSION:
An extended-use policy should be considered when short-term supply chains are strained but planning measures are in place to ensure long-term availability. With severe shortage expectations from a severe epidemic, as some European countries have experienced, prolonged use is necessary to prolong supply.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Risk Manag Healthc Policy
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
RMHP.S275496
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS