Jan Schumacher1, Alexandra R Bond2, Valentine Woodham3, Anna Buckingham4, Francesca Garnham5, Andrea Brinker1. 1. 1Department of Anesthesiology,Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust,London,UK. 2. 2Department of Intensive Care Medicine,Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust,London,UK. 3. 3Department of Anesthesiology,Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust,London,UK. 4. 4Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust,London,UK. 5. 5Department of Emergency Medicine,Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust,London,UK.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: An adequate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary when treating patients with highly infectious diseases or those contaminated with hazardous substances. METHODS: Following National Institute for Health Research's Research Centre (London, United Kingdom) approval, the authors of this study conducted a survey of specialist registrars' knowledge of the respiratory and skin protection requirements needed during a resuscitation scenario with Advanced Life Support. Participant responses were compared to UK national recommendations and to a previous survey in 2009. RESULTS: A total of 98 specialist registrars (in Anesthesiology, n=51; in Emergency Medicine (EM), n=21; and in Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) n=26) completed hand-delivered surveys. The best knowledge of PPE requirements (76%) was found for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), with less knowledge about PPE requirements for anthrax, plague, Ebola virus disease (EVD), and smallpox (60%). The results show limited knowledge of PPE requirements (20%-30%) for various chemical warfare agents. Personal protective equipment knowledge regarding treatment of sarin-contaminated casualties was over-rated by 80%, and for patients with EVD, it was over-rated by up to 67% of participants. CONCLUSION: The results of the tested cohort indicate that current knowledge regarding PPE for chemical warfare agents remains very limited.
INTRODUCTION: An adequate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary when treating patients with highly infectious diseases or those contaminated with hazardous substances. METHODS: Following National Institute for Health Research's Research Centre (London, United Kingdom) approval, the authors of this study conducted a survey of specialist registrars' knowledge of the respiratory and skin protection requirements needed during a resuscitation scenario with Advanced Life Support. Participant responses were compared to UK national recommendations and to a previous survey in 2009. RESULTS: A total of 98 specialist registrars (in Anesthesiology, n=51; in Emergency Medicine (EM), n=21; and in Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) n=26) completed hand-delivered surveys. The best knowledge of PPE requirements (76%) was found for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), with less knowledge about PPE requirements for anthrax, plague, Ebola virus disease (EVD), and smallpox (60%). The results show limited knowledge of PPE requirements (20%-30%) for various chemical warfare agents. Personal protective equipment knowledge regarding treatment of sarin-contaminated casualties was over-rated by 80%, and for patients with EVD, it was over-rated by up to 67% of participants. CONCLUSION: The results of the tested cohort indicate that current knowledge regarding PPE for chemical warfare agents remains very limited.
Entities:
Keywords:
APR air-purification respirator; CBRN; CBRN chemical; EM Emergency Medicine; EVD Ebola virus disease; Ebola; HPA Health Protection Agency; ICM Intensive Care Medicine; NHS National Health Service; PPE; PPE personal protective equipment; SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome; biological; or nuclear; radiological; resuscitation; sarin