Minimizing contamination in the use of personal protective equipment: Simulation results through tracking contamination and enhanced protocols
- Authors
- Kang, JaHyun; Kim, Eun Jin; Choi, Jeong Hwa; Hong, Hae Kyung; Han, Si-Hyeon; Choi, In Soon; Kim, Jinhwa; Kim, Jae Yeun; Park, Eun Suk; Choe, Pyoeng Gyun
- Issue Date
- Jun-2021
- Publisher
- Mosby Inc.
- Keywords
- Doffing; Evaluation; Fluorescent powder; Health care personnel; Safety
- Citation
- American Journal of Infection Control, v.49, no.6, pp 713 - 720
- Pages
- 8
- Journal Title
- American Journal of Infection Control
- Volume
- 49
- Number
- 6
- Start Page
- 713
- End Page
- 720
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/handle/2019.sw.cau/62415
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.11.002
- ISSN
- 0196-6553
1527-3296
- Abstract
- Background: Due to variations and the inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), this study aimed to evaluate our enhanced PPE protocols for minimizing doffing contamination. Methods: Among 3 PPE kits (simple, Level D, and Level C), 30 participants conducted the first simulation in their adapted way and the second following enhanced protocols. After donning, participants performed a 1-minute simulation of direct care on a patient simulator covered with fluorescent powder. For tracking contamination routes between doffing processes, fluorescent powder contamination was examined with ultraviolet lamps in the darkened room. Results: Participants were mostly registered nurses (N = 27, 90%), female (87%), and on average 31.7 years old with 8.5 years of clinical experience. Among 61 total simulations, 32 had at least 1 contamination (52.5%); “Noticeable” level (40%) at the “hands-fingers” and “shirt” body areas were most frequent. For first and second simulations with identical PPE kits, compared to the first with adapted practice, the second with enhanced protocols showed a significant reduction in doffing contamination rates (72.7% vs 22.7%, P = .0009 for both Level C and D; 77.8% vs 27.8%, P = .0027 for Level D). Conclusions: Our enhanced protocols could significantly reduce contaminations. More studies are necessary to provide safer PPE protocol options. © 2020 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
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