Oropharyngeal suctioning and nasogastric tube insertion with a new mask for reduction of droplet dispersion: a proposal for a new preventive strategy during the coronavirus disease pandemic

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is spread via respiratory droplets in close contact [1]. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of COVID-19 as compared with the general community. The risk is highest among those working in the inpatient setting and nursing homes because their work requires close personal exposure to patients with SARS-CoV-2 [2]. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, goggles or face shields, and gowns, can reduce nosocomial transmission, whereas inadequate PPE is considered to be a risk factor for acquiring COVID-19 [2,3].