Online first
Current issue
Most cited 2021
Archive
About the Journal
Editorial Office
Editorial Board
Copyright and self-archiving policy
Information clause on the processing of personal data
Instructions for Authors
Instructions for Reviewers
Contact
Reviewers
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Editing and translations
REVIEW / COMMENT
COVID-19 and respiratory protection for healthcare providers
| 1 | Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
(Corlu Faculty of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Biomaterials Department) |
| 2 | Saglik Bakanligi Catalca Ilyas Colak Public Hospital Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
(Intensive Care Unit and Reanimation Department) |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Sarkis Sozkes
Namik Kemal University, Corlu Faculty of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Biomaterials Department, Silahtaraga Mahallesi, Universite 1. Sokak No. 1 Corlu 59860, Tekirdag, Turkey
Namik Kemal University, Corlu Faculty of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Biomaterials Department, Silahtaraga Mahallesi, Universite 1. Sokak No. 1 Corlu 59860, Tekirdag, Turkey
Online publication date: 2020-11-24
Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2021;34(2):307–318
KEYWORDS
occupational health servicesrespiratory protective devicespandemicsrespiratorshealthcare providersoccupational health of physicians
TOPICS
infectious diseasesoccupational health servicescorporate occupational health strategytranslation of science into policy in occupational and environmental healthaerosol and bioaerosol exposure health effectsbiological agents exposure health effectsaerosol and bioaerosol exposurebiological agents at the workplacenanoparticles – occupational and environmental exposureexposure control
ABSTRACT
This article has investigated the considerations of healthcare facilities to utilize reusable respirators as an alternative to disposable respirators during
the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to choose specific equipment should be based on the protection factors and also on the overall analysis of
given conditions. International scientific databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed and MedLine, were searched on May 5, 2020, with the following
key words: COVID-19, respiratory protection, surgical masks, filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and disposable respirators. The differences
between various respiratory protective equipment, i.e., surgical masks, respirators such as FFRs, elastomeric half-facepiece respirators, elastomeric
full-facepiece respirators and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), were compared. Reusable elastomeric respirators (RERs) may provide
a better adaptation to the face and may be more stable when used by healthcare providers (HCPs). Protection factors were found to be higher in FFRs
compared to surgical masks. While FFRs provide a one-tenth decrease in the inhaled aerosol concentration, PAPRs diminish the inhaled aerosol up to
one-twenty-fifth. Even with some full-face PAPRs and helmets, the protection factor assigned by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
can reach a value up to 1000. For HCPs, the evidence shown in this article provides an additional support for the utilization of RERs. Such equipment
might be less prone to leakages, can provide a better fit, and indicates a better stability compared to disposable FFRs (N95 and similar). By providing
higher protection factors, reusable elastomeric respirators are recommended to be used by HCPs under controlled cleaning and disinfection protocols. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(2):307–18
RELATED ARTICLE
15% discount on:
– Polish and English language editing and proofreading,
– Polish-English and English-Polish translations,
– graphic design and typesetting.
To receive a discount, you need to:
– place an order (submit the form) between September 15 and October 31, 2021,
– add the note “15% discount” in the order form.
http://ijomeh.eu/Editing-and-translations,3115.html
– Polish and English language editing and proofreading,
– Polish-English and English-Polish translations,
– graphic design and typesetting.
To receive a discount, you need to:
– place an order (submit the form) between September 15 and October 31, 2021,
– add the note “15% discount” in the order form.
http://ijomeh.eu/Editing-and-translations,3115.html
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.