Respiratory Virus Transmission During Orthopaedic Surgery in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Survey of Knowledge and Clinical Practices

Abstract

Healthcare workers are at high risk of contracting respiratory viruses at work by virtue of their increased levels of exposure [1,2,3]. Orthopaedic surgeons are particularly vulnerable due to aerosolization that occurs with the use of power tools [4,5]. Therefore, it is important for orthopaedic surgeons to be familiar with the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as a part of their risk-reduction strategies against respiratory viruses. This, however, is not an area that receives much attention in most orthopaedic surgical departments, especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs) where PPE may not be universally available [4,5]. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, beliefs and practices on PPE use by orthopaedic surgeons in a LMIC in the Eastern Caribbean. The data gleaned from this study would be valuable to inform future public health strategies in the face of evolving health challenges. This becomes especially important in light of the recent global pandemic with the respiratory virus, COVID-19.