Adherence to Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Health-Care Personnel: A Louisiana Case Study.

Ayushi Aggarwal,Chenhao Ma,Adriana C Panayi,Oliver A Darwish,Mengfan Wu,Dennis P Orgill,Mehran Karvar,Valentin Haug

doi:10.1017/dmp.2021.176

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the extent that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, was used during the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by health-care personnel (HCP) in Louisiana in 5 clinical settings. An online questionnaire was distributed to the LA Nursery registry. Appropriate use of PPE in each of the 5 clinical scenarios was defined by the authors based on CDC guidelines. The scenarios ranged from communal hospital space to carrying out aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). A total of 1760 HCP participated between June and July 2020. The average adherence in LA was lowest for the scenario of carrying out AGPs at 39.5% compliance and highest for the scenario of patient contact when COVID-19 not suspected at 82.8% compliance. Adherence among parishes varied widely. Commentary to suggest a shortage of PPE supply and the practice of re-using PPE was strong. Use of appropriate PPE varied by setting. It was higher in scenarios where only face masks (or respirators) were the standard (ie, community hospital or when COVID-19 not suspected) and lower in scenarios where additional PPE (eg, gloves, eye protection, and isolation gown) was required.

Highlights

During the early stages of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in 2019, the sudden increase in demand with limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) had placed frontline health-care personnel (HCP) across the nation at higher risks of becoming infected by the virus, endangering their health and others who needed their care
The average adherence in LA was lowest for the carrying out aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) and highest for patient contact when COVID-19 not suspected scenarios
This study is the first to establish in the literature PPE level of adherence in LA during the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

During the early stages of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19), the sudden increase in demand with limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) had placed frontline health-care personnel (HCP) across the nation at higher risks of becoming infected by the virus, endangering their health and others who needed their care. With the second surge of the pandemic, reports of PPE shortages continued to circulate across the country

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Conclusion