Disposable Gloves Research Articles

Microbiological Profiles of Disposable Gloves Used for Handling Ready-to-Eat Foods

Hand hygiene is critical in the food service industry. Bacteria can easily be transferred between different surfaces to food during food preparation. Common hygiene practices include hand washing and usage of disposable gloves. Food handlers are often susceptible to transferring pathogenic bacteria to food, thus proper hand hygiene can limit such transmission. While gloves serve as a barrier between bare hands and food, their misuse, including reuse or lack of change, can potentially result in cross-contamination, compromising on food safety. In Singapore, strict regulations and consumer perceptions have encouraged the use of gloves in food handling. This study assessed the microbiological profile of gloves used by food handlers across fifty randomly chosen food establishments, by swabbing samples from the inner and outer surfaces of gloves. Glove samples were also subjected to a watertight test to detect significant physical damage. The results revealed that gloves with damage exhibited significantly higher mean Standard Plate Counts (SPCs), suggesting the likelihood that damaged gloves promoted the transfer of bacteria. Damaged gloves used to handle certain types of food, like noodles and rice dishes, also had significantly higher mean SPC than those used for beverages and snacks. However, gloves without visible damage showed no significant difference in mean SPC across different food types. The study highlighted that proper glove use can help in preventing bacterial transfer and consequently, maintaining food safety. Regular glove changes, particularly when damaged, are imperative. The findings underscore the importance of proper glove use in conjunction with other hand hygiene practices to uphold food hygiene and safety standards.

On the possibility of using waste disposable gloves as recycled fibers in sustainable 3D concrete printing using different additives

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, using large amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the world has extensively increased in recent years. The lack of a practical method to dispose of these recycled materials is one of the main concerns of researchers. Hence, comprehensive experimental tests were conducted in the present study to investigate the feasibility of using disposable gloves in mortars to achieve a sustainable mixture. Accordingly, latex and vinyl gloves as recycled fibers were considered in the experimental program to improve the sustainability of 3D printing concrete. As using these recycled materials causes some deficiencies for printing layers, different mineral and chemical admixtures were used in the present study, including graphene oxide nanomaterials, polyvinyl alcohol, Cloisite 15A nanoclay, and micro silica fume. Also, the hybrid use of latex, vinyl, and polypropylene (PP) fiber was considered to improve the printability of concrete mixtures containing waste fibers. Moreover, the effect of internal reinforcement was also considered by using plain steel wire mesh to increase the composite behavior of printed layers in this simplified experimental program. Results indicate that the synergic influence of recycled fibers and admixtures meaningfully enhanced the 3D printing properties of mortar so that about 20%, 80%, 50%, and more than 100% improvements were obtained for workability, direct tensile strength, flexural strength, and buildability index respectively. However, an average percentage − 28.3% reduction was recorded for the concrete compressive strength. Sustainability analysis also showed that using waste disposable gloves considerably reduced CO2 emissions.

Balancing Acute and Chronic Occupational Risks: The Use of Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Undergloves by Firefighters to Reduce Exposure to Toxic Contaminants.

Firefighters are exposed via multi-route exposure to a multitude of chemicals (PAHs, VOCs, flame retardants, dioxins, etc.) that may cause acute and long-term health effects. The dermal absorption of contaminants is a major contributor to the overall exposure and can be reduced by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. As leather firefighters' gloves cannot be decontaminated regularly by wet cleaning, many Belgian firefighters wear supplementary undergloves made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) to protect against the accumulation of toxicants. However, the safety of this practice has been questioned. In this commentary, the current practice and risks are outlined for the first time, assessed by an interdisciplinary working group of the Belgian Superior Health Council. As NBR sticks to the skin more at high temperatures, the contact time on removal will be prolonged, posing an additional risk for deeper burns. However, based on the physicochemical properties of NBR and the existing experience of firefighters and burn centers, it is estimated that such incidents occur relatively rarely in practice. On the other hand, the risk of repeated exposure to contaminated gloves if no undergloves are worn is unacceptable. Despite the slightly increased risk for deeper burns, it is concluded that wearing disposable NBR gloves under regular firefighters' gloves is an appropriate and effective preventive measure against toxic contamination. The nitrile butadiene rubber must always be fully covered to avoid any contact with the heat.

Blood and Hand Surface Lead in Veterinary Workers Using Lead Shielding During Diagnostic Radiography.

The objectives are to compare lead blood concentrations in veterinary workers using lead shielding with concentrations in a control population, to measure hand surface lead before and after use of shielding, and to compare hand surface lead with and without the use of disposable gloves worn under hand shielding. Blood and hand wipe samples were analyzed for lead using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. There was no difference in blood lead between exposed and control groups. After lead glove use, 69% (18/26) of hand surface lead samples from workers not using disposable gloves were greater than 500 μg, 42% (11/26) were greater than 1000 μg, and 12% (3/26) were greater than 2000 μg. If lead shielding use is unavoidable, disposable gloves should be worn, and skin should be decontaminated after use.

A Comparison of Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction to Synthetic Polyisoprene Gloves versus Control Gloves Using Modified Draize-95 Test in Normal Individual

Background: The emergence of epidemics in recent years, such as COVID-19 and monkeypox, has increased the need for protective gloves. Objectives: This study was performed to provide clinical evidence that no residual chemical additives are present in the powder-free, non-latex, with and without pigment, sterile and non-sterile nitrile, and polyisoprene gloves at a level that may induce type IV allergy in the unsensitized general user population. Methods and Materials: We conducted the modified Draize-95 test on the GAMMEX® Non-Latex PI, sterile powder-free synthetic polyisoprene surgical gloves (S01) and the GAMMEX® Non-Latex PI Green, sterile powder free synthetic polyisoprene surgical gloves (S02). A quasi-experimental non-equivalent study consisted of 180 healthy unsensitized adult volunteers at the Islamic University of Gaza. Participants were divided into two groups: 150 white subjects and 30 black subjects. Each group divided into two groups, each one contained approximately the same numbers of males and females. We used two sets of different test materials as 2x2 cm pieces of the glove's materials from the inner and outer surfaces mounted on an adhesive patch. For the control groups, we used Nitrile Skin Examination Powder-Free Disposable Gloves (C1) and Aegis Examination Gloves (C2). Results: None of the participants showed positive reactions to the test materials of equal or greater than 1.5 in the challenge or rechallenge phase, both on the inner and outer surfaces of the GAMMEX® Non-Latex PI, sterile powder-free synthetic polyisoprene surgical gloves (S01), and the GAMMEX® Non-Latex PI Green, sterile powder-free synthetic polyisoprene surgical gloves (S02). Only one white woman showed a reaction to the inner surface of the S02 material in the induction phase. Three participants showed skin reactions to the second control material, the Aegis Nitrile Examination Gloves (C2). Those three were a white female in the induction phase and two white males in the challenge phase. However, none of them showed any reaction later. Conclusion: The modified Draize test negative results for the GAMMEX Non-Latex PI, sterile powder-free, synthetic polyisoprene surgical gloves (white and green) support the claim that the chemical sensitization potential of these materials is low and that no residual chemical additives are present in these gloves at a level that could cause type IV hypersensitivity reactions.

Service availability and readiness assessment of COVID-19 disease management at different tiers of health service delivery in Bangladesh

Background: The world is passing through a hard time due to the highly infectious COVID-19 pandemic. Like other countries in the world, the Bangladesh government has taken various preventive measures. As part of this, the availability and readiness of different health facilities is crucial. Objective: The study aimed to assess availability and readiness based on logistics, workforce, clinical management, and IPC. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted from August 20 to September 30, 2021, which comprised a health facility survey with a sample of 210. The health facilities included all three tiers of hospitals, covering 24 districts of eight divisions. All COVID-19 dedicated hospitals were included in this survey. The questionnaire consisted of a standard checklist developed by WHO, DGHS, and CDC. Results: The overall scores for ICU, HDU, and ventilation service were 76.8%, 87.5%, and 85.7%, respectively, but they were almost missing in Upazila health complex and below the average in non-dedicated hospitals. All (100%) secondary and tertiary level hospitals had a 24-hour staffed emergency unit, with dedicated hospitals outperforming non-dedicated hospitals (99.2% vs 98.7%). Above 90% of hospitals in different tiers had hand hygiene supplies and respiratory hygiene supplies for staff and patients, 98% of the primary level hospitals displayed instructions on hand and respiratory hygiene practices. On the other hand, 94.9% of secondary level hospitals had clearly identified and separated COVID-19 isolation areas from non-COVID-19 areas; 82.1% of secondary level hospitals had service providers (MOs) who used PPE; 97.4% had routine cleaning and disinfection of ambulances done according to IPC guidelines; and 64.1% had staff of laboratory, laundry, food services, and waste management teams who used appropriate PPE. Secondary level hospitals had a better availability of PPE compared to primary and tertiary level hospitals, which consisted of protective gowns (87.8%), disposable latex gloves (examination) (92.5%), goggles, protective (82.9%), face shields (72.5%), respirator masks (N95 or FFP2) (75.0%), and masks, medical/surgical (97.6%) available for all health service providers. Almost 26.2% facility have PCR testing lab and almost all (96.7%) the facilities have specimen collection system in their facility. Conclusion: The service availability and readiness regarding COVID-19 among different tiers of health facilities in Bangladesh are not adequate. We need more support for disease detection capacities through provision of technical expertise, laboratory equipment and increase capacity of the secondary and primary health care tier along with national capacity for covid-19 testing. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2022; 48: 160-171

Recycling COVID-19 health care wastes in bitumen modification: a case of disposable medical gloves.

Disposable medical gloves (DMGs) have long been used to mitigate the risk of direct exposure to diverse microorganisms and body fluids; hence, they are a critical weapon to protect patients and healthcare staff from infectious diseases. Measures to control the spread of COVID-19 have sparked the production of an excessive number of DMGs, most of which are eventually being disposed of in landfills. Untreated DMGs in landfills do not only pose a direct risk of transmitting coronavirus and other pathological germs but also pollute air, water, and soil dramatically. As a healthier alternative, recycling discarded polymer-rich DMGs into bitumen modification is considered to be a prospective waste management strategy applicable to the asphalt pavement industry. In this study, this conjecture is tested by examining two common DMGs - latex gloves and vinyl gloves - at four different percentages (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight). The morphological characteristics of DMG-modified specimens were inspected by using a high-definition scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). A wide range of laboratory tests including penetration, softening point temperature, ductility, and elastic recovery were undertaken to evaluate the impact of waste gloves on the conventional engineering properties of bitumen. Moreover, viscoelastic behavior and modification processing were studied by conducting the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) test and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Test results have revealed the outstanding potential of recycled DMG waste for modifying neat asphalt binder. More specifically, bitumens modified with 4% latex glove and 3% vinyl glove were seen as capable of superiorly withstanding permanent deformations caused by heavy axle loads at high service temperatures. Furthermore, it has been shown that 1.2 tons of modified binder would embed approximately 4000 pairs of recycled DMGs. This study shows that DMG waste can be used as a viable modifier, which would help open a new avenue for mitigating the environmental pollution arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Normalized Deviance from Approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donning and Doffing Protocol—Towards a Hazard Reduction Index

Introduction:Reusing PPE is not recommended but was common during COVID-19 pandemic. Limited guidance on proper PPE use and its reuse heightened the hazards to health care worker (HCW) safety. Emerging data on PPE use suggests that most HCWs were contaminated by donning and doffing of PPE while adhering to standards of care.Method:A prospective observational study was conducted to understand HCW behaviors in donning, doffing, and reusing PPE. Emergency Department physicians and nurses were video-recorded donning, doffing, and reusing PPE within a simulated acute care environment. Participants performed five donning and doffing PPE procedures. PPE kit included gown, face shields, and N95 respirator masks. Participants had access to disposable gloves and hand sanitizer. Recordings were reviewed and coded independently by two trained coders based on checklist of key behaviors. Agreement between coders was high (81.9%). All participants reported completing PPE training.Results:28 videos of participants capturing 278 procedures were reviewed. None of the participants followed the CDC’s order for donning across five scenarios. Majority of participants failed to perform hand hygiene before donning or re-donning PPE or when doffing PPE. For contaminant spread risk, 92.85% (n=26) touched patient-facing side of PPE during re-donning and/or doffing PPE (M= 3.75, SD= 2.37, Median = 4; 0-9 times). The most common area of self-contamination was hands (n= 111 across all participants in 5 donning/doffing sequences). Touching patient-facing side of PPE was more likely to occur during donning than doffing (70.5% vs. 20.1% of sequences).Conclusion:The study found wide variation in PPE donning/doffing practices among HCW in violation of CDC guidance. This first study to review PPE reuse through a human factors lens, identifyied deviant behaviors that contribute to HCW self-contamination. Efforts are needed to redesign PPE and develop effective ways to train staff using PPE equipment safely.

Effectiveness of polymeric gloves in radioprotection against contamination in nuclear medicine

When handling unsealed radioactive sources, radiological protection attention must be taken to avoid unnecessary exposure and radioactive contaminations, and an important and necessary practice to prevent such contaminations is the use of gloves when handling these sources. The present work aimed to determine the effectiveness of contamination protection provided by different types of disposable polymeric gloves used in Nuclear Medicine Service in Clinic Hospital of Porto Alegre, testing the main radiopharmaceuticals used at this site: [99mTc]sodium pertechnetate, [18F]FDG and [131I]sodium iodide. The analysis was performed using the wipe test inside gloves intentionally contaminated on the outside with these radiopharmaceuticals. The radiation detector used to measure the contamination was a NaI(Tl) scintillator well-type counter. The results indicate that three types of gloves analyzed protect the user from [99mTc]sodium pertechnetate and [18F]FDG contamination, for permanence times with the glove after contamination for up to 15 min (interval tested). For [131I]sodium iodide, gloves are completely effective in protection as long as they are used for a time interval after contamination of the external surface of up to: Latex – 5 min; Vinyl – 5 min; Nitrile – 10 min. Among them, the nitrile glove are the most effective, since contamination was not observed on the inner face for times equal to or less than 10 min; and, for an interval of 15 min, the percentage of permeation obtained was lower than the other two types: 3.3 times lower than vinyl glove permeation and 1.3 times lower of the latex glove permeation. It was also possible to estimate the skin dose rate due to contamination caused by iodine permeation for each glove case and time tested.

Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella spp. prevalence in bulk tank milk of Colombian herds and associated milking practices.

Bovine mastitis is one of the most costly and prevalent diseases in dairy herds, which can be prevented and controlled through proper milking practices, diagnosis, and elimination of chronic animals, among others. Contagious pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and environmental pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. can affect cows and milk for human consumption, generating a public health risk. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of herds with somatic cell count (SCC) ≥200,000 cells/mL, S. aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp., in bulk tank milk (BTM) and its associated risk factors in Colombian dairy cow herds. A cross-sectional probabilistic study was carried out in 150 dairy herds located in the north of the Antioquia province. A single visit per herd was conducted, during which three BTM samples were aseptically collected. General data and milking practices were collected through an epidemiological survey applied in each herd. The prevalence of S. aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. were 14% (21/150), 2% (3/150), and 8% (12/150), respectively. Moreover, 95% of the herds presented an SCC of ≥200,000 cells/mL. Practices such as in-paddock milking, change of milker during the last month, use of disposable gloves, and hand disinfection were associated with increased prevalence of S. aureus, whereas proper dipping was a protective factor. Proper washing and disinfection of the milking machine, use of chlorinated disinfectants for hand hygiene, and use of disposable gloves decreased the prevalence of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. Bulk tank SCC increased in herds with 30-60 milking cows, herds with >60 milking cows, and herds with a change of milker during the last month. Hand disinfection and dipping decreased the SCC. Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. were prevalent in BTM from dairy cow herds. The risk of S. aureus isolation was higher in herds with an in-paddock milking system. The risk of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolation were higher in herds with >60 milking cows, with a change of milker during the last month. Processes such as avoiding changing the milker and greater control in medium and large herds could improve the SCC in BTM.

RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BOVINE MASTITIS

Identifying danger elements for mastitis is imperative for the improvement of particular techniques to manage and forestall the disease. Considering that these elements might also range between areas and dairy farms, the goal of this work was once to evaluation the fundamental threat elements related with bovine mastitis, each scientific and subclinical, in distinct countries, additionally overlaying epidemiological factors of the sickness such as etiology and prevalence. Factors related with bovine mastitis may additionally be associated to the animal, the environment, herd administration and milking equipment. Risk elements for mastitis related with the animal can also be the depth of the udder, the presence of hyperkeratosis on the teats and udder hygiene. Other elements related with a greater hazard of mastitis, such as a greater wide variety of births/lactations/age, greater lactation stage/days in lactation and greater proportion of Holsteins in the herd. Factors related with decrease possibilities of mastitis are: carrying out a milking line, that is, milking cows with mastitis after wholesome cows or separately, the usage of disposable gloves at some stage in milking, pre-milking teat disinfection, drying teats, post-milking teat disinfection and ordinary protection of milking equipment. Regular mastitis research proceed to be imperative for adapting and creating new equipment for controlling and stopping the disease.

Association between Compliance with COVID-19 Restrictions and the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Poland.

During the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic it has become very important to comply with preventive measures. We aimed to assess compliance with applicable restrictions and to explore the links between the level of compliance and the risk of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study included Polish adults who were asked to complete a validated questionnaire. The study period was from 1 November 2020 to 31 January 2021 and a computer-assisted web interview method was chosen to perform the survey. The study involved 562 women and 539 men. COVID-19 was reported in 11.26% of participants. A good level of compliance with the sanitary restrictions was reported for 38.87% of participants, an average level of compliance for 47.96%, and a low level of compliance for 13.17%. A reduced risk of COVID-19 was associated with the following preventive measures: regular use of protective masks, social and physical distancing in public places, regular use of hand sanitizers with high ethanol content, and the use of disposable gloves in public places. Our survey revealed satisfactory public compliance with the pandemic restrictions. Sanitary and epidemiologic measures to prevent the pandemic were shown to be adequate and effective.

Contaminated disposable rubber gloves as evidence samples after a chemical attack with nerve agents.

Nerve agents have been used recently in the Syrian civil war. Collecting relevant samples for retrospective identification of an attack is often problematic. The article deals with the possibility of using contaminated gloves as an analytical sample for evidence of the chemical weapons use. There have not yet been published studies dealing with the identification of chemical warfare agents in this type of matrix, where the diversity of chemical properties of gloves and the lifetime of the contaminated sample would be considered. Sarin, soman, and cyclosarin were used as contaminants in the study. Nitrile, latex, and vinyl disposable gloves were chosen as matrices. The identification method was gas chromatography. Six solvents commonly used in military laboratories were tested as extractants. The extraction procedure was optimized in terms of the appropriate method (vortex) and the required extraction time (1min) and resulted in significant reduction in sample preparation time. The chromatographic background of the extracts was also monitored in order to find a method with the least number of peaks interfering in the identification. Suitable solvents were hexane and acetonitrile. The lifetime of the sample was also investigated. The worst result was recorded for latex. For individual contaminants, the time varied depending on the volatility. The developed procedures were successfully validated within a sample handling effects scenario. The results demonstrate that in the event of an ongoing military risk at the site of an attack, even discarded disposable rubber glove type samples can be used as evidence.

Exposure risk management: Personal protective equipment and the risk of accidents occurring during aerosol generating procedures applied to COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 is considered to be very contagious as it can be spread through multiple ways. Therefore, exposure risk of healthcare workers (HCWs) treating COVID-19 patients is a highly salient topic in exposure risk management. From a managerial perspective, wearing personal protective equipment and the risk of accidents occurring during aerosol generating procedures applied to COVID-19 patients are two interconnected issues encountered in all COVID-19 hospitals. The study was conducted to understand the realistic impact of exposure risk management on HCWs exposed to risks of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in a healthcare unit. In particular, this study discusses the role of personal protective equipment (PPEs) used in aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) to protect HCWs, and the related risk of accidents occurring when performing AGPs. This is a cross-sectional single-hospital study conducted at the "Sf. Ioan cel Nou" Hospital in Suceava, Romania, that had to ensure safety of healthcare workers (HCWs) getting in contact with COVID-19 cases. Data used in the study were collected between 10.12.2020-19.03.2021 by means of a questionnaire that collected information on risk assessment and healthcare workers' exposure management, and which was translated and adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) and applied to respondents online. For this purpose, ethical approval was obtained, doctors and nurses from all hospital departments being invited to complete the questionnaire. Data processing, as well as descriptive, correlation and regression analyses have been done by using the 21.0 version of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Most of the 312 HCWs reported having always used disposable gloves (98.13%), medical masks N95 (or equivalent) (92.86%), visors or googles (91.19%), disposable coverall (91.25%) and footwear protection (95.00%) during AGPs. The waterproof apron had always been worn only by 40% of the respondents, and almost 30% of staff had not used it at all during AGPs. Over the last three months, the period when the questionnaire was completed, 28 accidents were reported while performing AGPs: 11 accidents with splashing of biological fluids/ respiratory secretions in the eyes, 11 with splashing of biological fluids/ respiratory secretions on the non-idemn skin, 3 with splashing of biological fluids/ respiratory secretions in the oral/ nasal mucosa and 3 with puncture/ sting with any material contaminated with biological fluids/ respiratory secretions. Also, 84.29% of respondents declared having changed their routine, at least, moderately due to COVID-19. An effective risk exposure management is based on wearing protective equipment. The only protection offered by the disposable coverall, as it results from our analysis, is related to splashing of biological fluids/ respiratory secretions on the non-idemn skin. In addition, the results show that the number of accidents should decrease due to the fact that disposable gloves and footwear protection are used while performing AGPs on patients with COVID-19 and hand hygiene is practised before and after touching a patient with COVID-19 (regardless of glove wearing).

Feasibility and effectiveness of disinfection of gloves during routine care: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionDisinfecting gloves during patient care has potential benefits and risks. In recent years, disinfection of disposable medical gloves for prolonged use has occurred in clinical practice. However, there is limited...

Nanokaolin reinforced carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber/polyurethane blend-based latex with enhanced tensile properties and chemical resistance

The demand for gloves (e.g., disposable gloves, medical gloves) is increasing due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Stability in the supply chain in the glove industry is important, and thus strategies are used to solve the problem of the shortage of nitrile gloves. The blending of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with polyurethane (PU) and the use of the nanocomposite concept is among the feasible approaches. The present study aims to investigate the effects of nanokaolin (NK) on the tensile and chemical properties of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/polyurethane (PU) latex blends. Three different loadings of NK (10, 20, and 30 parts per hundred rubber) were added to the NBR/PU (at a blending ratio of 85/15). The zeta potential showed that all the NBR compounds exhibit good colloidal stability. The incorporation of NK increased the crosslink density and tensile strength of the NBR/PU latex blends. The highest tensile strength was achieved when the NK loading was 20 phr. All the NBR blends and nanocomposites (NBR/PU-based) possess tensile properties that fulfill the requirements for glove application. The chemical resistance of NBR compounds was increased by the incorporation of NK due to the higher crosslink density and barrier properties contributed by the NK.

Changes in Infection Prevention Practices and Occurrence of Skin Symptoms among Healthcare Workers, Cleaners and Day-care Workers in Norway during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased attention on infection prevention measures. This study aims to assess whether changes in hand hygiene procedures, use of personal protective equipment and moisturizers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with changes in the occurrence of skin symptoms among healthcare workers, cleaners, and day-care workers. A total of 602 participants (40%) responded to an electronic questionnaire, including questions on previous and current occupational exposure and skin problems. Increased frequency of hand washing, use of hand disinfectants, use of disposable gloves and moisturizers were all associated with an increased symptom score on the hands, wrists, forearms. Participants who increased their use of masks or respirators had a higher risk of facial skin symptoms, compared with those with non-increased occupational exposure. In conclusion, a change of behaviour among healthcare workers, cleaners and day-care workers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increase in occupational exposures and use of moisturizers, was associated with higher occurrence of facial skin symptoms and symptoms on the hands, wrists and forearms.

Adherence to Infection Prevention and Control Measures Among Health-Care Workers Serving in COVID-19 Treatment Centers in Punjab, Pakistan.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are easily adoptable activities to prevent the spread of infection to patients as well as among health-care workers (HCWs). This cross-sectional study evaluated the adherence to IPC measures among HCWs working at coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment centers in Punjab, Pakistan. HCWs were recruited by means of convenient sampling through Google Form® using the World Health Organization risk assessment tool. All data were analyzed using SPSS 20. A total of 414 HCWs completed the survey (response rate = 67.8%), and majority of them were males (56.3%). Most of the HCWs were nurses (39.6%) followed by medical doctors (27.3%). Approximately 53% reported insufficiency of personal protective equipment (PPE), 58.2% did not receive IPC training and 40.8% did not have functional IPC team at their health facilities. The majority of HCWs (90%) used disposable gloves and N95 facemasks while interacting with COVID-19 patients. Nearly 45% used protective face shields and gowns before providing care to their patients. Hand hygiene practices while touching, and performing any aseptic procedure was adopted by 70.5% and 74.1% of HCWs, respectively. In conclusion, the adherence to IPC measures among Pakistani HCWs working in COVID-19 treatment centers is good despite the limited availability of PPEs. Their practices can be optimized by establishing institutional IPC teams, periodic provision of IPC training, and necessary PPE.

E-learning as a strategy in dentistry in the context of COVID-19: a path to follow?

The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of e-learning in compliance with the new biosafety recommendations in dentistry in the context of COVID-19 applied to the clinical staff of a dental school in Brazil. A quasi-experimental epidemiological study was carried out by means of a structured, pre-tested online questionnaire, applied before and after an educational intervention, using an e-learning format. After data collection, statistical tests were performed. A total of 549 members of the clinical staff participated in the study in the two collection phases, with a return rate of 26.9%. After the e-learning stage, a reduction was found in the reported use of disposable gloves, protective goggles, and surgical masks. The course had no impact on the staff's knowledge concerning the proper sequence for donning PPE and showed 100% effectiveness regarding proper PPE doffing sequence. Knowledge about avoiding procedures that generate aerosols in the clinical setting was improved. Despite the low rate of return, it can be concluded that online intervention alone was ineffective in significantly improving learning about the new clinical biosafety guidelines. Therefore, the use of hybrid teaching and repetitive training is highly recommended.

Are We Truly Safe? Unfolding the Final Chapters of COVID-19 Walk-Through Booths.

This research proposes a safety strategy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) walk-through booths to optimize pandemic preparedness. These booths, designed for respiratory sample collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively reduce infection risk and personal protective equipment-related fatigue among healthcare workers. However, inadequate disinfection and glove management could escalate infection transmission. Using computational fluid dynamics simulations, we analyzed droplet dispersion on booth surfaces and gloves under various wind conditions. Our findings suggest that when setting up COVID-19 walk-through booths, their location should be strategically chosen to minimize the effects of wind. All surfaces of booth gloves must be thoroughly disinfected with a certified disinfectant after nasopharyngeal swab collection. It is also recommended to wear disposable gloves over booth gloves when changing between patient examinations. In wind-affected areas, individuals nearby should not solely rely on the 2-meter distancing rule due to potential droplet spread from walk-through booths. We strongly recommend consistent and proper mask use for effective droplet blocking. Adherence to these guidelines can significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of walk-through booths, particularly in potential future pandemics.