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ObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionThis study examined the factors affecting the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among US agriculture producers, specifically focusing on chemical, respiratory, and hearing protection. The primary goals were to identify demographic and farm-related factors linked to lower PPE usage and to explore the associations between PPE use and self-reported injuries or diseases in this occupational context.We developed generalized multilevel multinomial logistic regressions for the agricultural safety and health survey data from 2018 and 2020. Our models aimed to explore associations between PPE use, covariates, and their impact on skin diseases, hearing loss, and respiratory diseases. The hierarchical structure of the data was accommodated by designating the survey year as the level-3 variable and the state of residence as the level-2 variable, further delineating the nested structure of the respondents. We proposed using Adaptive Quadrature methods to approximate marginal maximum likelihood function, along with Gauss-Hermite quadrature weights when estimating fixed-effects and random effects in the proposed models. Missing data in this hierarchical structure were addressed through a multiple imputation method.Our findings revealed older age is associated with lower PPE usage across all types. Males exhibited higher PPE use, particularly for chemical (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.47) and respiratory protection (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.52). Producers on grain-only farms showed increased chemical PPE use (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.43) compared to those on livestock-only farms. Additionally, individuals spending 0%–24% of their worktime on the farm/ranch demonstrated lower PPE use than those who spent more time engaged in farm-related activities.The study underscores the importance of addressing low PPE usage among agriculture producers. Interventions tailored to specific groups, such as female producers, livestock-only farms, older-aged producers, and part-time producers, can effectively improve PPE use. By identifying these high-risk groups, interventions can be better adapted and targeted to enhance the adoption of PPE, subsequently reducing the risk of health hazards in the agriculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence has previously shown that outer tunics (turnout coats) worn by firefighters at structural fires are contaminated with harmful chemicals which subsequently off-gas from the material. However, there is limited research on whether this phenomenon extends to wildland firefighter uniforms. This pilot study aimed to explore if the tunics of volunteer bushfire and forestry firefighters in Western Australia off-gas any contaminants after exposure to prescribed burns or bushfires, and whether there is a need to explore this further. Nine tunics were collected from firefighters following nine bushfire and prescribed burn events, with a set of unused tunics serving as a control. Chemical analysis was performed on these tunics to assess levels of acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and sulphur dioxide contamination. The assessment involved measuring chemical off-gassing over a 12 h period using infrared spectrometry. Tunics worn by firefighters appear to adsorb acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and sulphur dioxide from bushfire smoke and these contaminants are emitted from firefighting tunics following contamination at elevated concentrations. Further investigation of this research with a larger study sample will be beneficial to understand this phenomenon better and to determine the full extent and range of chemical contaminants absorbed by all firefighter clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The unprecedented surge in the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide during the covid pandemic resulted in a significant increase in PPE consumption and subsequent waste generation. Despite the importance of PPE, its widespread usage and disposal have sparked worries about the environmental impact and its long-term sustainability. The increasing awareness of environmental challenges, resource scarcity, and the urgent need to mitigate climate change necessitates a paradigm shift in the product design, manufacturing process, and waste management of PPE. To address these challenges and have a sustainable PPE future, the development of degradable polymers and natural fibers offers a promising alternative to traditional plastics. Additionally, recycling and upcycling methods can convert the waste into valuable alternate products or energy sources, thereby reducing their environmental impact. Better waste management systems, comprehensive policy frameworks, and international collaborations are essential for the effective PPE waste management and the promotion of sustainable practices. Despite the challenges, collaborative efforts across governments, manufacturers, research institutions, and waste management authorities are crucial for transitioning to a more sustainable PPE industry and a circular economy, ultimately benefiting both the environment and society.

The construction industry is a dynamic field with potential hazards that can affect project quality and performance. Proper implementation of Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) management is essential in construction projects. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is an important aspect of OHS, but compliance among construction workers is still lacking. This study aims to determine the relationship between attitude and compliance with the use of PPE on the Hermina Hospital construction project in Madiun City. This study was a cross-sectional study, and data were collected using a questionnaire. This study involved 93 construction workers. The results showed that 62% of construction workers in Ethiopia did not use PPE while working, mainly due to lack of availability (41.1%), lack of orientation on the use of PPE (21.3%), discomfort (16.3%), and lack of perceived importance (1.3%). In Indonesia, approximately 60% of workers have experienced head injuries due to not wearing a safety helmet, 90% have experienced facial injuries due to not wearing a face shield, 77% have experienced foot injuries due to not wearing safety shoes, and 66% have experienced eye injuries due to not using eye protection. The low compliance with PPE use among construction workers is a significant concern, as this increases the risk of occupational injuries and accidents. Factors such as availability, training, comfort, and perceived importance of PPE should be addressed to improve compliance. Employers and policy makers need to prioritize the implementation of effective OHS management in construction projects to protect workers' health and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Safety issues have become increasingly important in the construction business. In an effort to reduce accidents, eliminate illness, and provide an ideal working atmosphere on their built-up sites, several construction businesses worldwide are using ecological, health, and safety oversight strategies. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), specific processes, and engineering safeguards have been the mainstays of traditional prevention of infections methods. Among Hong Kong construction workers, this research examined the linear and curvilinear correlations between gender and safety performance (accident rates and occupational injuries), as well as safety attitudes. Method: This study examines at the connections between psychological stresses (distress and fulfilment with employment on the psychological level), safety performances (self-reported accident and injury rate at workplace), and safety environment (safety attitudes and interactions). 375 construction workers from 27 sites in Hong Kong, China (M = 365, F = 9, mean age = 35.64 years) were given an interview. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data between February and May 2018. Results: Using a path analysis conducted using the EQS-5, the proposed model of the interaction among the safety the surroundings, safety performance, and psychological stressors was evaluated. The results provide some support for the idea, as psychological distress and safety attitudes both predict the prevalence of accidents and work-related injuries. The analysis gave important information on eight components of safety in construction, involving security procedures and specifications, safety organization as well, safety training, inspection of hazardous circumstances, personal protection program, machinery and supplies, promotion of safety, and managerial behaviour. Conclusion: The survey findings give managers of building projects and safety in construction professionals with practical information to help them keep their sites safe. This article presents insights and comments. Variability in organisational and individual characteristics can explain a large portion of the diversity in selfprotective conduct in health care environments. Moreover, a mediator in the relationship between safeguarding mentality and the number of accidents was shown to be psychological distress. Examined is the effect of these results on psychological counselling in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented surge in the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide during the covid pandemic resulted in a significant increase in PPE consumption and subsequent waste generation. Despite the importance of PPE, its widespread usage and disposal have sparked worries about the environmental impact and its long-term sustainability. The increasing awareness of environmental challenges, resource scarcity, and the urgent need to mitigate climate change necessitates a paradigm shift in the product design, manufacturing process, and waste management of PPE. To address these challenges and have a sustainable PPE future, the development of degradable polymers and natural fibers offers a promising alternative to traditional plastics. Additionally, recycling and upcycling methods can convert the waste into valuable alternate products or energy sources, thereby reducing their environmental impact. Better waste management systems, comprehensive policy frameworks, and international collaborations are essential for the effective PPE waste management and the promotion of sustainable practices. Despite the challenges, collaborative efforts across governments, manufacturers, research institutions, and waste management authorities are crucial for transitioning to a more sustainable PPE industry and a circular economy, ultimately benefiting both the environment and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered everyday life, making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) a mandatory "social norm" worldwide. While PPE serves a critical protective function, it also has a controversial dark side related to environmental pollution. The release of contaminated plastic into the environment threatens the achievement of fundamental Sustainable Development Goals. This study is based on a comprehensive bibliographic analysis of existing literature on PPE, with a focus on face masks as a primary component. The aim of our research is to highlight the significant environmental impact of increased usage and improper disposal of PPE, leading to plastic pollution. In addition to consolidating existing knowledge on PPE, this paper explores the magnitude of the issue and reviews potential solutions, such as the development of biodegradable PPE, the use of cloth masks, effective waste management practices, and recycling and reusing methods. These steps are crucial in preparing for future health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to reduce exposure when working with chemicals. For pesticides, exposure scenarios comprise mixing and loading (M&L) and application. The exposure prediction model recommended by European regulatory agencies for operator risk assessments—the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM) – is based on 48 operator exposure studies involving over 500 professional operators from 10 European countries in typical working situations to assess exposure under realistic field conditions. We used the AOEM data to assess the efficiency of exposure reduction resulting from wearing chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and non-certified working coveralls during M&L (tank and backpack sprayer), applications using groundboom and airblast spraying, and outdoor and indoor (greenhouse) applications using handheld sprayers. All studies indicated consistent and high exposure reduction > 90% for gloves and non-certified coveralls across all investigated scenarios. Exceptions were almost exclusively observed when an operator incorrectly used the PPE. The mean exposure reduction from all operators, including those that used PPE incorrectly, was 95.0% for gloves and 96.4% for polyester/cotton working coveralls during M&L, and 91.1% for gloves and 94.9% for non-certified coveralls during all application scenarios. This analysis confirms the essential role of PPE and non-certified working coveralls in reducing operator exposure to pesticides. Outliers indicate that operators need to be properly trained and adhere to label instructions to apply pesticides according to good agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction safety requires real-time monitoring due to its hazardous nature. Existing vision-based monitoring systems classify each frame to identify safe or unsafe scenes, often triggering false alarms due to object misdetection or false detection, which reduces the overall monitoring system's performance. To overcome this problem, this research introduces a safety monitoring system that leverages a novel temporal-analysis-based algorithm to reduce false alarms. The proposed system comprises three main modules: object detection, rule compliance, and temporal analysis. The system employs a coordination correlation technique to verify personal protective equipment (PPE), even with partially visible workers, overcoming a common monitoring challenge on job sites. The temporal-analysis module is the key component that evaluates multiple frames within a time window, triggering alarms when the hazard threshold is exceeded, thus reducing false alarms. The experimental results demonstrate 95% accuracy and an F1-score in scene classification, with a notable 2.03% average decrease in false alarms during real-time monitoring across five test videos. This study advances knowledge in safety monitoring by introducing and validating a temporal-analysis-based algorithm. This approach not only improves the reliability of safety-rule-compliance checks but also addresses challenges of misdetection and false alarms, thereby enhancing safety management protocols in hazardous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designers have been fascinated by exploring new geometries made by high-performance structures. In more specific terms, biological systems have always been proven to be characterised by sophisticated structures with adapting properties to nature challenges. Insightful analyses have shown how these natural structures are dominated by characteristics such as high energy absorption and elevated strength-weight proportion. Fractal geometries are examples of bio-inspired mathematical objects whose complex 3D structures can be obtained only by advanced manufacturing systems, such as additive manufacturing (AM). This study investigates the feasibility and energy absorption properties of a novel fractal structure based on a 3D Greek cross (3D-CFS). The structure was designed with different volume fractions and produced by powder bed fusion (PBF) AM processes in polyamide (PA12) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The 3D-CFS properties are investigated under quasi-static and dynamic compression tests. The analysis revealed that for certain geometrical parameters, the manufacturing of the structures is constrained by the sintered powder entrapped in the structure. However, in the case of powder-free structures, the results showed a high impact resistance and cushioning capability. Overall, in terms of specific energy absorption (SEA), the TPU structures showed values between 2.5 and 3.5 kJ/kg, while PA12 ones are between 7.5 and 17.4 kJ/kg, making the 3D-CFS structure compatible with personal protective equipment (PPE) applications. Compared to the literature data on cellular structures made by AM, 3D-CFS performs considerably better. Also, PA12 3D-CFS is better, with a SEA value up to 170% higher than that of a typical material employed for head PPE (e.g. EPS-60 SEA equal to 2.76 kJ/kg). In contrast, TPU 3D-CFS looks more promising in the case of multiple impact conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural firefighters are exposed to a complex set of contaminants and combustion byproducts, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Additionally, recent studies have found structural firefighters' skin may be exposed to multiple chemical compounds via permeation or penetration of chemical byproducts through or around personal protective equipment (PPE). This mannequin-based study evaluated the effectiveness of four different PPE conditions with varying contamination control measures (incorporating PPE interface design features and particulate blocking materials) to protect against ingress of several VOCs in a smoke exposure chamber. We also investigated the effectiveness of long-sleeve base layer clothing to provide additional protection against skin contamination. Outside gear air concentrations were measured from within the smoke exposure chamber at the breathing zone, abdomen, and thigh heights. Personal air concentrations were collected from mannequins under PPE at the same general heights and under the base layer at abdomen and thigh heights. Sampled contaminants included benzene, toluene, styrene, and naphthalene. Results suggest that VOCs can readily penetrate the ensembles. Workplace protection factors (WPFs) were near one for benzene and toluene and increased with increasing molecular weight of the contaminants. WPFs were generally lower under hoods and jackets compared to under pants. For all PPE conditions, the pants appeared to provide the greatest overall protection against ingress of VOCs, but this may be due in part to the lower air concentrations toward the floor (and cuffs of pants) relative to the thigh-height outside gear concentrations used in calculating the WPFs. Providing added interface control measures and adding particulate-blocking materials appeared to provide a protective benefit against less-volatile chemicals, like naphthalene and styrene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are common and a common cause of sick-leave for healthcare workers, and furthermore pose a threat especially for patients susceptible to other diseases. Sufficient use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) may protect both the workers and the patients. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study the association between use of RPE and URTI in a real-life setting. The aim of this study was to examine if failure of RPE or non-compliance with RPE guidelines increases the risk of non-COVID-19 URTI symptoms among healthcare workers. Methods In a longitudinal cohort study, we collected self-reported data daily on work tasks, use of RPE, and URTI symptoms among healthcare workers with patient contact in 2 Danish Regions in 2 time periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. The association between failure of RPE or non-compliance with RPE guidelines and URTI symptoms was analyzed separately by generalized linear models. Persons tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were censored from the analyses. The 2 waves of data collection were analyzed separately, as there were differences in recommendations of RPE during the 2 waves. Results We found that for healthcare workers performing work tasks with a risk of transmission of viruses or bacteria, failure of RPE was associated with an increased risk of URTI symptoms, RR: 1.65[0.53–5.14] in wave 1 and RR: 1.30[0.56–3.03] in wave 2. Also non-compliance with RPE guidelines was associated with an increased risk of URTI symptoms compared to the use of RPE in wave 1, RR: 1.28[0.87–1.87] and wave 2, RR: 1.39[1.01–1.91]. Stratifying on high- versus low-risk tasks showed that the risk related to failure and non-compliance was primarily associated with high-risk tasks, although not statistically significant. Discussion The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and thus may be affected by other preventive measures in society. However, this gave the opportunity to study the use of RPE in a real-life setting, also in departments that did not previously use RPE. The circumstances in the 2 time periods of data collection differed and were analyzed separately and thus the sample size was limited and affected the precision of the estimates. Conclusion Failures of RPE and non-compliance with RPE guidelines may increase the risk of URTI, compared to those who reported use of RPE as recommended. The implications of these findings are that the use of RPE to prevent URTI could be considered, especially while performing high-risk tasks where other prevention strategies are not achievable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical protective masks with both high antibacterial activity and filtration efficiency have gained wide interest due to sporadic respiratory disease outbreaks. Previous studies have focused on improving a single function (antibacterial activity or filtration) of the mask performance. Herein, we developed silver nanoparticles-decorated PVDF membranes (AgNPs/PVDF) with both high antibacterial activity and filtration efficiency. Our results show that AgNPs/PVDF membranes have antibacterial efficiency of 99.98% and 99.86% against E. coli and S. aureus , respectively. The bacterial filtration efficiency is higher than 95%. PM0.26 filtration efficiency can be maintained above 95% after continuous filtration for 144 min. Adding AgNPs also promotes distinct hierarchical structure formation, which could improveme the filtration efficiency. This study provides a new methodology to fabricate antibacterial membranes doped with metal nanoparticles with promising applications in personal protective equipment development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Western Australia, the issue of bushfires (wildfires) poses a persistent health risk to both volunteer and career forestry firefighters, populations that have been historically understudied. Aims: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to examine firefighters' level of understanding concerning hazardous exposures, their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocols and their decontamination practices. Methods: Guided by the socioecological model, 23 semi-structured interviews were conducted with firefighters representing both volunteer and forestry sectors. Key results: Results indicate a gap in knowledge regarding the health risks associated with bushfire-generated smoke and contaminants among volunteer firefighters. Forestry firefighters, conversely, showed a greater awareness of these risks. Social dynamics, such as peer pressure, were identified as historical deterrents to PPE use, although recent trends indicate positive change. Forestry firefighters also highlighted systemic shortcomings, including inadequate provision of respiratory protection and lack of decontamination facilities for cleaning themselves and their PPE. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical need for educational initiatives to address these gaps in understanding, along with organisational reforms to promote a culture encouraging PPE use and to provide essential resources for effective decontamination. Implications: This research emphasises that a multi-level approach is essential for safeguarding the health of firefighters in bushfire-prone environments. Volunteer firefighters in Western Australia have a significant knowledge gap about of bushfire smoke health risks and protection. Forestry firefighters are more informed but still face issues like inadequate respiratory protection and lack of decontamination facilities. Better education and essential resources are crucial to improving safety for all firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has long been a high priority in dental aerosol-producing treatments. Since COVID-19 pandemic, its importance has increased yet again. While importance of PPE in preventing transmission and thus possible infection of pathogens is well known, contamination potential of PPE after treatment itself is less investigated. This review aims to give an overview of the current literature and contamination potential (viral, blood, bacterial) of components of protective equipment itself. The literature search was performed using the Medline database; furthermore, a hand search was conducted. Last search took place on 23 November 2022. Two categories of hygiene-related keywords were formed (category A: mask, face shield, goggles, eyewear, personal protective equipment; category B: contamination, aerosol). Each keyword from one category was combined with all keywords from the other one. In addition, the keyword "dental" was always added. First, a title and abstract screening was performed. Afterward, a full-text analysis was followed for the included studies. A total of 648 search hits were found in the Medline database. 47 were included after title and abstract screening. 22 studies were excluded after full-text analysis, 25 studies were included. The hand search resulted in 4 studies that were included. Bacterial contamination of PPE after treatment has been adequately studied, contamination with blood less. Microorganisms mainly originate from the oral and cutaneous flora; however, a transmission of potential pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli was also described. Studies showing transmission pathways starting from PPE and its various components are lacking. No measures have yet been described that fully protect the protective equipment from contamination. There is growing awareness that PPE itself can be a source of pathogen transmission, and thus possible infection. Therefore, not only wearing of protective clothing, but also conscious handling of it is crucial for transmission and possible infection prevention. However, studies showing transmission pathways starting from PPE and its various components are lacking. Several studies have investigated what measures can be taken to protect the protective equipment itself. So far, none of the methods evaluated can prevent contamination of PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire environments impose severe effects on the human body through thermal radiation, smoke particles, and toxic gases. This review focuses on human injury mechanisms including human thermoregulation, heat strains, skin injuries, and inhalation injuries in fire environments. Human thermal models and their coupling system with CFD and thermal sweating manikin were proposed to investigate human physiological responses in various environments with better prediction accuracy, based on which heat strains were evaluated. Heat and mass transfer simulation, and bench-scale and full-scale experimental studies were adopted to evaluate skin burn injuries. Moreover, testing techniques and standards related to both the protective fabric and clothing were summarized. The difficulty in inhalation injuries study lies in the direct measurement of the airflow field inside the respiratory tract. Through three-dimensional modeling of the respiratory tract and experimental methods coupled with CFD simulations, thermal injuries, and particle obstruction injuries of fire smoke particles can be evaluated. Given these, future studies need to be focused on improving the prediction accuracy of modeling human injury mechanisms, developing next-generation fabrics, flexible and wearable sensors, early warning and decision-making systems, and smart personal protective equipment (PPE). The review can offer fundamental knowledge for human injury assessment, the development of next-generation personal protective clothing, and guidance for maximum safe working time and emergency rescue for firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the Navy moves forward with implementing electrochemical energy sources in their power systems, a need to understand the hazards present to electric workers comes to light. Understanding the effects these sources have on arc flash hazards drives the need to study relevant energy sources that are deployed on naval platforms. A 1000-V valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery system presents the greatest need to study as incident energy models can suggest dramatic personal protective equipment (PPE) especially with the inclusion of scale factors. As a part of a collaborative effort between the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) arc flash studies of VRLA battery systems at voltages as high as 936 V have been performed. Findings show that below 800 V, the battery sourced incident energy as high as 0.26 cal/cm2. Above 800 V, incident energy surpassed 1.2 cal/cm2 and approached category 1 PPE (4 cal/cm2). A model derived from this work is used to emphasize the impact enclosure based scale factors have on incident energy estimates. This work has also compared relevant dc incident energy models to the measured incident energy sourced from this battery system.

Current research on personal protective equipment (PPE) detection has mainly focused on hard hats, overlooking the detection of reflective clothing. Therefore, this study aims to address this research gap comprehensively. We achieve this by creating a novel dataset using semi-automatic labeling techniques and enhancing the YOLOv5 model. The dataset consists of four categories, assessing the presence of hard hats and reflective clothing. Additionally, we introduce an attention mechanism and an improved loss function to tackle challenges related to detecting reflective clothing and overlapping detection frames. Through extensive multi-model comparison experiments, our improved model, AL-YOLOv5, outperforms the baseline model with remarkable advancements of 0.9 AP in the data-limited category and 0.4 mAP overall. Notably, our improved model shows substantial progress in detecting reflective clothing, significantly reducing false detections, and improving overlapping bounding frames. In conclusion, this study contributes to PPE detection accuracy through a novel dataset and an improved model.

Abstract Background Health systems worldwide struggled to obtain sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic due to global supply chain disruptions. Our study’s aim was to create a proof-of-concept model that would simulate the effects of supply strategies under various scenarios, to ultimately help decision-makers decide on alternative supply strategies for future similar health system related crises. Methods We developed a system dynamics model that linked a disease transmission model structure (susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered (SEIR)) with a model for the availability of critical supplies in hospitals; thereby connecting care demand (patients’ critical care in hospitals), with care supply (available critical equipment and supplies). To inform the model structure, we used data on critical decisions and events taking place surrounding purchase, supply, and availability of PPE and ventilators during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic within the English national health system. We used exploratory modelling and analysis to assess the effects of uncertainties on different supply strategies in the English health system under different scenarios. Strategies analysed were: (i) purchasing from the world market or (ii) through direct tender, (iii) stockpiling, (iv) domestic production, (v) supporting innovative supply strategies, or (vi) loaning ventilators from the private sector. Results We found through our exploratory analysis that a long-lasting shortage in PPE and ventilators is likely to be apparent in various scenarios. When considering the worst-case scenario, our proof-of-concept model shows that purchasing PPE and ventilators from the world market or through direct tender have the greatest influence on reducing supply shortages, compared to producing domestically or through supporting innovative supply strategies. However, these supply strategies are affected most by delays in their shipment time or set-up. Conclusion We demonstrated that using a system dynamics and exploratory modelling approach can be helpful in identifying the purchasing and supply chain strategies that contribute to the preparedness and responsiveness of health systems during crises. Our results suggest that to improve health systems’ resilience during pandemics or similar resource-constrained situations, purchasing and supply chain decision-makers can develop crisis frameworks that propose a plan of action and consequently accelerate and improve procurement processes and other governance processes during health-related crises; implement diverse supplier frameworks; and (re)consider stockpiling. This proof-of-concept model demonstrates the importance of including critical supply chain strategies as part of the preparedness and response activities to contribute to health system resilience.

Abstract Background Older people hospitalized for COVID-19 are a vulnerable group due to the disease itself, aging and often loss of hearing and vision. Person-centered care, where patients have opportunities to communicate and participate in their own care, is important. However, because healthcare staff needed to wear personal protective equipment during the pandemic, to protect the patients and themselves, providing person-centered care was often difficult. This study aims to describe older hospitalized patients’ experiences both of being cared for, while having COVID-19, and of the care provided by healthcare staff wearing PPE. Methods Fourteen older patients, over 65 years of age, were interviewed, and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study adhered to Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines. Results Three subthemes and one overall theme, “The desire for survival overshadows difficulties”, emerged in the analysis. The main findings revealed that the older hospitalized patients experienced the care they received from the healthcare staff as satisfactory. The older patients reported understanding and accepting that the pandemic situation meant that their ability to participate in their own care and communicate with healthcare staff were given lower priority. Conclusions Older hospitalized patients need to be provided person-centered care, and situations such as a pandemic are no exception. Care tasks that are not acute in nature, e.g., planning for patients’ return home, could be conducted by healthcare staff not required to wear PPE.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed health sectors across the world under great pressure in terms of acute care and infection control. Policies responding to the latter led to a change in working practices among health practitioners, including nurses. The changes included establishing new patterns and protocols of risk work to mitigate infection risk in hospitals, but these new ways of working were somewhat incompatible with embodied practices of care. Our small-scale study, based on in-depth qualitative interviews with nurses in Danish hospitals in March 2021 (n = 9) indicates that, amid this crisis of embodied practices, nurses established new ways of caring, and built up close relationships with patients through verbal explication and exaggeration. At the same time, the findings also demonstrate the limits of these new practices in caring for specific groups of patients, such as children. In this context, we found examples of the breaking of risk-mitigation protocols in order to establish caring relationships with young patients. Yet some of these young patients belonged to the small group of children at risk of developing serious illness in the case of a potential COVID-19 infection. We analyse these problems in risk work and caring through a framework drawing on social theoretical approaches to risk and embodiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study objective was to quantify infection rate trends for central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in 89 Alabama hospitals from 2015 to 2021 to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted health care delivery. Retrospective analysis of CLABSI and CAUTI rates, from 89 Alabama hospitals via data from the Alabama Department of Public Health from 2015 to 2021. Based on our modeling strategies, there was a statistically significant decrease in rates of CAUTIs from 2015 to 2019 at an estimated rate of 7% per year (P = 0.0167) and CLABSIs from 2015 to 2018 at an estimated rate of 13% per year (P <.001) in these hospitals. In 2020, the CAUTI and CLABSI rates began increasing at a modeled rate of 29% per year (P =.001) and 35% per year (P <.001) respectively. A review of potential causes for the elevated rate of health care–associated infections illustrated that certain practices may have contributed to increased CAUTI and CLABSI rates. Utilizing staff from noncritical care areas with less experience in health care–associated infection prevention, batching of tasks to conserve personal protective equipment, and a nationwide mental health crisis could have affected infection prevention bundle compliance. An increase in CAUTIs and CLABSIs was observed during the pandemic, likely due to the large volume of patients requiring advanced medical care and subsequent depleted resources. • In Alabama hospitals, CAUTI and CLABSI rates were decreasing from 2015 to 2019. • However, CLABSI rates did slightly increase from 2018 to 2019. • In 2020 and 2021, CAUTI and CLABSI rates increased significantly. • Certain practices may have contributed to increased rates of CAUTIs and CLABSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There are difficult tradeoffs when designing head-mounted equipment such as helmets, lights, cameras, or virtual or augmented reality displays. Increased functionality and battery life adds weight, which in turn reduces comfort. A successful product must balance both comfort and functionality to achieve its product engagement goals. OBJECTIVE: This study defines "comfortable wear time" as a new metric, and applies it to the domain of headsets in determining the relationship between headset weight and comfort. METHODS: Sixteen study participants wore four otherwise identical headsets weighted between 500g–600 g for up to two hours each in an office environment. If participants experienced more than "mild discomfort" (>3 on an NRS-11 discomfort scale), the trial ended early, and the comfortable wear time was recorded. Intensity and location of discomfort was rated at trial conclusion, and qualitative feedback collected. RESULTS: Higher weights were associated with shorter comfortable wear times. Not everyone could wear even the lightest headset (500 g) for the full two hours. Qualitatively, discomfort took many forms beyond the expected neck fatigue or contact pressure and included symptoms commonly associated with motion sickness, such as headache and dizziness. Finally, there were pronounced gender differences with females experiencing more severe discomfort with earlier onset. CONCLUSION: Heavier headsets were less comfortable for the lower quartile of participants –yielding an average of 11 fewer minutes of comfortable wear time per 33 g of weight added. Understanding the discomfort costs from adding weight empowers product teams to find the correct balance to meet their product engagement targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health systems worldwide struggled to obtain sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic due to global supply chain disruptions. Our study's aim was to create a proof-of-concept model that would simulate the effects of supply strategies under various scenarios, to ultimately help decision-makers decide on alternative supply strategies for future similar health system related crises. Methods: We developed a system dynamics model that linked a disease transmission model structure (susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered (SEIR)) with a model for the availability of critical supplies in hospitals; thereby connecting care demand (patients' critical care in hospitals), with care supply (available critical equipment and supplies). To inform the model structure, we used data on critical decisions and events taking place surrounding purchase, supply, and availability of PPE and ventilators during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic within the English national health system. We used exploratory modelling and analysis to assess the effects of uncertainties on different supply strategies in the English health system under different scenarios. Strategies analysed were: (i) purchasing from the world market or (ii) through direct tender, (iii) stockpiling, (iv) domestic production, (v) supporting innovative supply strategies, or (vi) loaning ventilators from the private sector. Results: We found through our exploratory analysis that a long-lasting shortage in PPE and ventilators is likely to be apparent in various scenarios. When considering the worst-case scenario, our proof-of-concept model shows that purchasing PPE and ventilators from the world market or through direct tender have the greatest influence on reducing supply shortages, compared to producing domestically or through supporting innovative supply strategies. However, these supply strategies are affected most by delays in their shipment time or set-up. Conclusion: We demonstrated that using a system dynamics and exploratory modelling approach can be helpful in identifying the purchasing and supply chain strategies that contribute to the preparedness and responsiveness of health systems during crises. Our results suggest that to improve health systems' resilience during pandemics or similar resource-constrained situations, purchasing and supply chain decision-makers can develop crisis frameworks that propose a plan of action and consequently accelerate and improve procurement processes and other governance processes during health-related crises; implement diverse supplier frameworks; and (re)consider stockpiling. This proof-of-concept model demonstrates the importance of including critical supply chain strategies as part of the preparedness and response activities to contribute to health system resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seen many changes in our daily infection prevention behaviours so as to reduce healthcare-associated transmission of COVID-19 in patients and healthcare workers. In the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, there was much emphasis on compliant personal protective equipment utilization in the operating theatres (OTs) for COVID-19-positive patients. However, during this period, there was a lack of international validated protocols on the appropriate handling and subsequent storage of personal protective equipment in the context of aerosol-generating procedures in OTs for asymptomatic antigen rapid test (ART)-negative patients. Given the potential for transmission even with a negative ART due to the incubation period, our team developed a checklist of eye protection (e.g. goggles/face shield) and N95 mask handling and storage in non-isolation OTs for these patients. We sought to improve the compliance of best practices from 20% to 80% amongst junior anaesthetists in Singapore General Hospital so as to prevent infection transmission and cross-contamination in the OT through education and behaviour-changing interventions. This quality improvement project took place over 19 weeks from June to October 2020 by our team of anaesthetists and nurse clinicians in the non-isolation OT setting. To analyse the problem, we performed a root cause analysis to understand attitudes and beliefs driving their behaviour. The top 80% of cited root causes for non-compliance then guided prioritization of resources for subsequent behaviour-changing interventions. Using the comprehensive infection control checklist, we conducted several plan-do-study-act cycles while implementing this new checklist amongst junior anaesthetists. A total of 227 assessments of junior anaesthetists were made in the care of asymptomatic ART-negative patients. Compliance with correctly handling goggles post-intubation started out as 33.3% in Week 1, which improved to 78.5% by Week 19. Compliance with goggle storage and face shield disposal started out at 13.6% in Week 1 and increased to 78.6% by Week 19. We attributed this improvement to education and behaviour-changing interventions. This quality improvement project focusing on improving compliance with personal protective equipment utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic in the management of asymptomatic ART-negative patients in non-isolation OTs demonstrated the importance of interventions of education, persuasion, modelling, and training in effecting and sustaining organizational behaviour change in physicians and other healthcare personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older people hospitalized for COVID-19 are a vulnerable group due to the disease itself, aging and often loss of hearing and vision. Person-centered care, where patients have opportunities to communicate and participate in their own care, is important. However, because healthcare staff needed to wear personal protective equipment during the pandemic, to protect the patients and themselves, providing person-centered care was often difficult. This study aims to describe older hospitalized patients' experiences both of being cared for, while having COVID-19, and of the care provided by healthcare staff wearing PPE. Methods: Fourteen older patients, over 65 years of age, were interviewed, and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study adhered to Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines. Results: Three subthemes and one overall theme, "The desire for survival overshadows difficulties", emerged in the analysis. The main findings revealed that the older hospitalized patients experienced the care they received from the healthcare staff as satisfactory. The older patients reported understanding and accepting that the pandemic situation meant that their ability to participate in their own care and communicate with healthcare staff were given lower priority. Conclusions: Older hospitalized patients need to be provided person-centered care, and situations such as a pandemic are no exception. Care tasks that are not acute in nature, e.g., planning for patients' return home, could be conducted by healthcare staff not required to wear PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, the world has undergone drastic changes. The Delta variant has high transmissibility and evades human cellular defenses. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded over 31.654 million cases and 4 million COVID-19 deaths as of December 2022. Hospitals have faced challenges in patient management and healthcare worker protection. This study discusses the relationship between nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the use of personal protective equipment in Indonesian COVID-19 referral hospitals. This study utilized a quantitative analytical observational method with a cross-sectional approach. The research was conducted in four COVID-19 referral hospitals in the Yogyakarta Special Region in Indonesia. This study shows that there is no significant relationship between attitudes and behaviors in the use of PPE; however, a positive correlation exists. Most nurses in COVID-19 isolation wards demonstrate good knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward the use of PPE. There is a positive correlation between knowledge and attitudes, as well as nurses' behaviors in using PPE. • Enhancing PPE Compliance: This study suggests that improving knowledge and attitudes among healthcare workers can enhance compliance with proper PPE usage. • Future Research Directions: Future research could explore additional factors influencing PPE compliance and identify specific interventions to promote safe practices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. • Room for Improvement: Despite generally positive findings, some nurses still exhibit inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes toward PPE usage, indicating the need for ongoing education and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives The COVID-19 epidemic upset the standards in terms of hygiene and protection in the dental office, bringing additional precautions for dentists. The objective of our study was to draw the “new normal” of hygiene measures at the end of the COVID-19 epidemic. Materials and methods A self-administered questionnaire about transitional recommendations for oral care in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic was published online in private groups dedicated to French dentists. Results The 246 respondents understood the reasons behind those recommendations, since 10 out of 11 measures reached a mean score greater than 2.5 on a 0 (not at all) to 4 (absolutely) scale when it came to determining whether the measure made the practitioner feel safe and ensured patient safety. Besides, more of the respondents intended to maintain the measures than they were to apply them before the epidemic. Conclusions The COVID-19 epidemic reshaped the relationship to hygiene and protection measures in the context of dental practices. The “new normal” of hygiene measures at the end of the COVID-19 epidemic will probably involve more protective measures than before. Clinical relevance These results constitute interesting avenues for public health deliberation, which would make it possible to best adapt future health recommendations in order to define the “new normal” of hygiene measures in dental practices at the end of the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore, it could have an impact on all practitioners in their clinical activities.

Aims: Orthopaedic surgery uses many varied instruments with high-speed, high-impact, thermal energy and sometimes heavy instruments, all of which potentially result in aerosolization of contaminated blood, tissue, and bone, raising concerns for clinicians’ health. This study quantifies the aerosol exposure by measuring the number and size distribution of the particles reaching the lead surgeon during key orthopaedic operations. Methods: The aerosol yield from 17 orthopaedic open surgeries (on the knee, hip, and shoulder) was recorded at the position of the lead surgeon using an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS; 0.5 to 20 μm diameter particles) sampling at 1 s time resolution. Through timestamping, detected aerosol was attributed to specific procedures. Results: Diathermy (electrocautery) and oscillating bone saw use had a high aerosol yield (> 100 particles detected per s) consistent with high exposure to aerosol in the respirable range (< 5 µm) for the lead surgeon. Pulsed lavage, reaming, osteotome use, and jig application/removal were medium aerosol yield (10 to 100 particles s-1). However, pulsed lavage aerosol was largely attributed to the saline jet, osteotome use was always brief, and jig application/removal had a large variability in the associated aerosol yield. Suctioning (with/without saline irrigation) had a low aerosol yield (< 10 particles s-1). Most surprisingly, other high-speed procedures, such as drilling and screwing, had low aerosol yields. Conclusion: This work suggests that additional precautions should be recommended for diathermy and bone sawing, such as enhanced personal protective equipment or the use of suction devices to reduce exposure. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(10):636–643.

With the development of ordnance technology, the survival and safety of individual combatants in high-tech warfare are under serious threat, and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as an important guarantee to reduce casualties and maintain military combat effectiveness, is widely developed. This paper systematically reviewed various PPE based on individual combat through literature research and comprehensive discussion, and introduced in detail the latest application progress of PPE in terms of material and technology from three aspects: individual integrated protection system, traditional protection equipment, and intelligent protection equipment, respectively, and discussed in depth the functional improvement and optimization status brought by advanced technology for PPE, focusing on the achievements of individual equipment technology application. Finally, the problems and technical bottlenecks in the development of PPE were analyzed and summarized, and the development trend of PPE were pointed out. The results of the review will provide a forward-looking reference for the current development of individual PPE, and are important guidance for the design and technological innovation of advanced equipment based on the future technological battlefield.

COVID-19 pandemic has increased the amount of plastic burden to environment and complexities of plastic waste management. Change in behavioral pattern with advent of this pandemic led to increased practice of hygiene and increased use of different types of personal protective equipment. Unfortunately, rapid rise in production of the PPEs (like Hazmat suit, gloves, etc.) and single-use plastics used in RT-PCR and other testing are the biggest source for increased non-biodegradable plastic waste leading to amplified burden on plastic waste management. A number of measures like prioritizing the policies directed towards changes at behavioral, social and institutional level need to be started. Also, reduction in plastic waste along with proper plastic waste management policies should be implemented. To prevent the transition from one pandemic to other; improvement in government policies with public private partnership are the need of the hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction safety requires real-time monitoring due to its hazardous nature. Existing vision-based monitoring systems classify each frame to identify safe or unsafe scenes, often triggering false alarms due to object misdetection or false detection, which reduces the overall monitoring system’s performance. To overcome this problem, this research introduces a safety monitoring system that leverages a novel temporal-analysis-based algorithm to reduce false alarms. The proposed system comprises three main modules: object detection, rule compliance, and temporal analysis. The system employs a coordination correlation technique to verify personal protective equipment (PPE), even with partially visible workers, overcoming a common monitoring challenge on job sites. The temporal-analysis module is the key component that evaluates multiple frames within a time window, triggering alarms when the hazard threshold is exceeded, thus reducing false alarms. The experimental results demonstrate 95% accuracy and an F1-score in scene classification, with a notable 2.03% average decrease in false alarms during real-time monitoring across five test videos. This study advances knowledge in safety monitoring by introducing and validating a temporal-analysis-based algorithm. This approach not only improves the reliability of safety-rule-compliance checks but also addresses challenges of misdetection and false alarms, thereby enhancing safety management protocols in hazardous environments.

Objectives: The COVID-19 epidemic upset the standards in terms of hygiene and protection in the dental office, bringing additional precautions for dentists. The objective of our study was to draw the "new normal" of hygiene measures at the end of the COVID-19 epidemic. Materials and methods: A self-administered questionnaire about transitional recommendations for oral care in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic was published online in private groups dedicated to French dentists. Results: The 246 respondents understood the reasons behind those recommendations, since 10 out of 11 measures reached a mean score greater than 2.5 on a 0 (not at all) to 4 (absolutely) scale when it came to determining whether the measure made the practitioner feel safe and ensured patient safety. Besides, more of the respondents intended to maintain the measures than they were to apply them before the epidemic. Conclusions: The COVID-19 epidemic reshaped the relationship to hygiene and protection measures in the context of dental practices. The "new normal" of hygiene measures at the end of the COVID-19 epidemic will probably involve more protective measures than before. Clinical relevance: These results constitute interesting avenues for public health deliberation, which would make it possible to best adapt future health recommendations in order to define the "new normal" of hygiene measures in dental practices at the end of the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore, it could have an impact on all practitioners in their clinical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing COVId-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of Infection prevention practices among healthcare workers. Prioritizing this crucial aspect of healthcare can mitigate the spread of infectious diseases and ensure the well-being of our healthcare heroes and their communities. The purpose of the research was to investigate the knowledge and practice of Infection prevention and control. The study was a cross-sectional study that used self-administered paper-based questionnaires. The study sample of 316 eligible healthcare workers were selected using stratified sampling. data was entered into EPI Info version 7.2 and exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. The ethics committees of the University and the Hospital approved the study. The majority of participants 116 (36.7%) were nurses. The mean age was 34.79 years ± 8.37, 118 (37.30%) were male while 198 (62.7%) were female. Only 169 (53.9%) knew the recommended duration for hand washing. 132 (41.8%) of healthcare workers believed needles should be recapped following use. Healthcare workers were twice as likely to wash their hands before contact and five times more likely to wash their hands after contact with a patient, their bedding, or after a procedure (AOR 1.82, 95%CI 1.04-3.20), (AOR 4.51, 95%CI 1.76-11.54) respectively. Personal protective equipment (PPEs) were twice as likely to be unavailable (AOR 2.39, 95%CI 1.31-4.37). The findings revealed suboptimal knowledge and practice of hand hygiene indicating the need for healthcare workers to be trained on IPC. PPE(s) must be provided for healthcare workers to improve compliance with IPC practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant challenges for health systems globally, with medical professionals at the forefront of this crisis. Understanding their organizational expectations and well-being implications is crucial for crafting responsive healthcare environments. Methods: Between 2021 and 2022, an online survey was conducted among 852 medical professionals across four provinces in Poland: Mazovia, Łódź, Świętokrzyskie, and Lublin. The survey tool, based on a comprehensive literature review, comprised dichotomous questions and specific queries to gather explicit insights. A 5-point Likert scale was implemented to capture nuanced perceptions. Additionally, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) was utilized to ascertain the correlation between workplace organization and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Results: A noteworthy 84.6% of participants believed their employers could enhance safety measures, highlighting a discrepancy between healthcare workers' expectations and organizational implementations. Major concerns encompassed the demand for improved personal protective equipment (44.6%), structured debriefing sessions (40%), distinct building entrances and exits (38.8%), and psychological support (38.3%). Statistical analyses showcased significant variations in 'Avoidance' and 'Overall PTSD Score' between individuals who had undergone epidemic safety procedure training and those who had not. Conclusions: The results illuminate the imperative for healthcare organizations to remain agile, attentive, and deeply compassionate, especially during worldwide health emergencies. Despite showcasing remarkable resilience during the pandemic, medical professionals ardently seek an environment that underscores their safety and mental well-being. These findings reinforce the call for healthcare institutions and policymakers to champion a forward-thinking, employee-focused approach. Additionally, the data suggest a potential avenue for future research focusing on specific demographic groups, further enriching our understanding and ensuring a more comprehensive readiness for impending health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of diseases transmitted through respiratory droplets and direct contact, healthcare workers (HCWs) necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). For optimal safety, PPE should securely conform to the skin during extended wear. However, conventional PPE often lacks adequate air permeability and hygroscopicity, trapping heat and moisture emitted by the body within the enclosure. Such a hot and humid internal environment can induce skin damage, such as erythema, rash, pruritus, and itching among others, leading to microbial growth on the skin surface, the production of inflammatory mediators at the wound site and an increased risk of infection. This review strives to comprehensively elucidate the fundamental mechanisms triggering adverse skin reactions and their resultant manifestations. Furthermore, we explore recent advancements aimed at inhibiting these mechanisms to effectively mitigate the occurrence of skin lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) involves a collaborative effort among various healthcare stakeholders, including healthcare workers, patients, and professionals. Radiographers, as essential members of the healthcare team, play a crucial role in HAI prevention by diligently adhering to standard infection control precautions (SICP) and maintaining a high level of knowledge regarding infection control procedures. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of radiographers concerning infection control in radiology departments in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia in the period from February to May 2022, with data collected using an online survey in the form of a google forms questionnaire disseminated through social media as an electronic link and including the patient's demographic characteristic such as age, gender, education level, experience, and prior infection control training and multiple closed ended questions to assess knowledge of standard infection control precautions and the practice of infection control. Overall, 113 participants responded to the survey and entered their responses directly, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS (statistical package for social science). Results: The study revealed that the mean score of knowledge and awareness of the practice of infection control among radiographers in Saudi Arabia was (63.0 and 61.9, respectively), which were considered moderate levels. Females were significantly more knowledgeable about infection control and more aware of the practice than males (p-values = 0.019). The participants who previously attended courses of infection control training had a significantly higher score with a mean rank of (60.9) than those who had not (43.4), (p-value = 0.013). The radiographers' level of experience, age, and academic qualification had no significant influence on overall knowledge and practice of infection control (p-values > 0.05). Conclusions: In Saudi Arabia, radiographers have a moderate level of knowledge and practice of infection control. There is a need for an ongoing training and education program for practicing radiographers to ensure they perform better in infection control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cows are known carriers of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), a protozoa that can cause the gastrointestinal illness cryptosporidiosis in humans. Despite this potential exposure, dairy farmers tend to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect the milk from contamination, rather than to protect themselves from zoonotic diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis. In this study, cow feces were collected from individual cattle on dairy farms and analyzed for C. parvum using qPCR. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was used to determine the risk of cryptosporidiosis to the dairy farmer with and without the use of handwashing and PPE (gloves and masks). The annualized risk of cryptosporidiosis to dairy farmers was 29.08% but was reduced significantly in each of the three interventions. Among the individual interventions, glove use provided the greatest reduction in risk, bringing the annual risk of cryptosporidiosis to 4.82%. Implementing regular handwashing, the use of gloves and a mask brought the annual risk of cryptosporidiosis to 1.29%. This study provides evidence that handwashing and PPE use can significantly reduce the risk of cryptosporidiosis to farmers and is worth implementing despite potential barriers such as discomfort and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To conduct a quality evaluation of the literature for the prevention of skin damage caused by personal protective equipment among healthcare workers and to summarise the best‐evidence practice strategies to prevent it. Design: Review. Methods: Two researchers retrieved the literature from Web of Science, Public Medicine, etc., from the establishment of the database until 24 June 2022. Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II was used to assess the methodological quality of the guidelines. Expert consensus was assessed by the 2016 version of the Australian Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence‐based Health Care Center corresponding evaluation standards. By tracking the original study, the quality of practice recommendations and best‐practice evidence information sheets were evaluated by the 2016 version of the Australian Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence‐based Health Care Center corresponding evaluation standards. The classification of evidence and recommendation level adopted the 2014 version of the Australian Joanna Briggs Institute evidence pre‐grading and recommending level system. Results: A total of 5476 studies were retrieved after duplications were eliminated. After the quality evaluation, 10 qualified studies were finally included. All consisted of two guidelines, one best practice information sheet, five practice recommendations, and one expert consensus. The evaluation results of the guidelines were both B‐level recommendations. The consistency strength of expert consensus was moderate (Cohen's kappa coefficient =.571). Thirty best‐evidence practised strategies were compiled for four elements, including cleaning, moisturising, prophylactic dressings and others. Conclusion: Our study evaluated the quality of the included studies and summarised the preventive measures of PPE‐related skin lesions according to the recommendation level. The main preventive measures were divided into 4 parts and 30 items. However, the associated literature was rare, and the quality was slightly low. More high‐quality research is needed to focus on healthcare workers' health and not just skin in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global prevalence of COVID-19 has necessitated the use of personal protective equipment, particularly face masks, amongst healthcare workers (HCWs). However, extended face mask usage has led to adverse health effects. This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between prolonged surgical mask-wearing and the development of adverse effects among 500 HCWs in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The study utilized an anonymous questionnaire distributed across multiple departments in Jazan and Sabya Hospitals. The results indicated that most participants believed that wearing face masks for extended periods led to adverse skin and respiratory effects. The primary respiratory complaints were difficulty breathing and nasal itching, while skin-related issues included sweating, itching, and acne. Therefore, this study concludes that extended surgical mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic could potentially lead to adverse health implications among HCWs in Jazan. Further research into this correlation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing COVId-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of Infection prevention practices among healthcare workers. Prioritizing this crucial aspect of healthcare can mitigate the spread of infectious diseases and ensure the well-being of our healthcare heroes and their communities. The purpose of the research was to investigate the knowledge and practice of Infection prevention and control. The study was a cross-sectional study that used self-administered paper-based questionnaires. The study sample of 316 eligible healthcare workers were selected using stratified sampling. data was entered into EPI Info version 7.2 and exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. The ethics committees of the University and the Hospital approved the study. The majority of participants 116 (36.7%) were nurses. The mean age was 34.79 years ± 8.37, 118 (37.30%) were male while 198 (62.7%) were female. Only 169 (53.9%) knew the recommended duration for hand washing. 132 (41.8%) of healthcare workers believed needles should be recapped following use. Healthcare workers were twice as likely to wash their hands before contact and five times more likely to wash their hands after contact with a patient, their bedding, or after a procedure (AOR 1.82, 95%CI 1.04-3.20), (AOR 4.51, 95%CI 1.76-11.54) respectively. Personal protective equipment (PPEs) were twice as likely to be unavailable (AOR 2.39, 95%CI 1.31‑4.37). The findings revealed suboptimal knowledge and practice of hand hygiene indicating the need for healthcare workers to be trained on IPC. PPE(s) must be provided for healthcare workers to improve compliance with IPC practices.