Self-contamination risk and failure modes during high-level PPE doffing: A pilot comparison of 2 powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) hoods - 15/04/25

Resumen |
Background |
Personal protective equipment doffing protocols can reduce risks of pathogen self-contamination. Powered air-purifying respirators may increase these risks. This study compares viral contamination and errors during simulated doffing of single-layer versus double-layer hood powered air-purifying respirators.
Methods |
Eight participants performed 2 simulations (video recorded for failure modes [FMs] and effects analysis): 1 single-layer hood (laid over Tyvek suit) and 1 double-layer hood (top laid over and bottom tucked into suit). Hoods were contaminated with viruses. After doffing, inner gloves, face, hands, and scrubs were sampled.
Results |
Virus contaminated at least 1 site in 6/8 single- and 5/8 double-layer simulations. Virus-contaminated inner gloves in single- (6 participants, median 5.42 × 104 plaque-forming units) and double-layer (2 participants, median 7.23 × 102 plaque-forming units) simulations, and hands of 2 participants in single-layer simulations. Single-layer doffing had 13 FMs; double had 31.
Discussion |
Double-layer doffing reduced inner glove contamination. The double-layer protocol may reduce glove-face shield contact but allow more opportunities for error. Double-layer doffing errors may less frequently lead to contamination than single layer.
Conclusions |
Contamination and FMs may differ between double- and single-layer doffing. Although inner glove contamination was reduced, double-layer doffing may need redesign to reduce FMs and contamination.
El texto completo de este artículo está disponible en PDF.Highlights |
• | High risk pathogens require complex personal protective equipment (PPE). |
• | PAPRs are an important part of PPE to protect against high-risk pathogens. |
• | Complex PPE, including PAPRs, can contaminate the wearer during removal. |
• | Design of a PAPR may influence the risk of wearer contamination during removal. |
• | Simulations can help determine how and why design influences contamination risk. |
Key Words : PAPR, Human factors, Occupational health, Respiratory protection
Esquema
| Conflicts of interest: None to report. |
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| Funding/support: This work was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR002378. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. |
Vol 53 - N° 5
P. 582-587 - mai 2025 Regresar al númeroBienvenido a EM-consulte, la referencia de los profesionales de la salud.
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