Open AccessHealth care workers protection during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Author(s) -
Diana Didović,
Andrea Nikčević,
Lorna Stemberger Marić,
Srđan Roglić
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
infektološki glasnik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.105
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 1848-7769
pISSN - 1331-2820
DOI - 10.37797/ig.40.4.6
Subject(s) - personal protective equipment , respirator , medicine , infection control , airborne transmission , isolation (microbiology) , pandemic , transmission (telecommunications) , medical emergency , covid-19 , health care , intensive care , risk of infection , environmental health , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , pathology , materials science , genetics , electrical engineering , economic growth , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , composite material , biology , engineering
The infection riskamong frontline health care workers (HCW) is one of the most concerning aspectsof COVID-19. Knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still insufficient.However, direct, person-to-person contact appears to be the main route.Secondary transmission can also occur and intensive care units have showngreater contamination than general wards. Risk of transmission by infectiousaerosols distributed through the ventilation system duct is considered to bevery low. Screening and triaging everyone entering a health care facility iscrucial in order to prevent rapid spread among hospital personnel and patients.Recommendations on airborneprecautions in the health care setting vary by location, but are universally tobe implemented when aerosol-generating procedures are performed. Surgical masksor respirators are currently critical supplies that should be reserved for HCW.Both types of masks need to be used in combination with other personal protective equipmentmeasures. COVID-19 patients should be cohorted and onlypatients undergoing aerosol generating procedures should be placed in airborneinfection isolation rooms.