An increase in respiratory protection device injuries associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

To the Editor: The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed many people's lives. While social distancing, quarantining, and personal protective equipment (PPE) have positively impacted the pandemic's progression, ancillary consequences have occurred.1,2 Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of respiratory protection equipment was largely limited to health care and industrial settings. However, as PPE use by the general population increased, reports of dermatologic reactions have also increased.3 This study reports on the epidemiology of respiratory protection equipment-related injuries in the United States associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.