Janet W Rich-Edwards1, Ming Ding, Carissa M Rocheleau, James M Boiano, Jae H Kang, Iris Becene, Long H Nguyen, Andrew T Chan, Jaime E Hart, Jorge E Chavarro, Christina C Lawson. 1. Division of Women's Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Rich-Edwards); Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Rich-Edwards, Chavarro); Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Ding, Chavarro); National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (Rocheleau, Boiano, Lawson); Channing Division of Network Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA (Kang, Hart); Tufts University, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA (Becene, Chavarro); Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA (Nguyen, Chan); Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Hart).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. METHODS: March-May 2020 survey of the national Nurses' Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. RESULTS: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19 patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with two-fold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infected patients. CONCLUSION: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.
OBJECTIVES: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. METHODS: March-May 2020 survey of the national Nurses' Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. RESULTS: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with two-fold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infectedpatients. CONCLUSION: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.
Authors: Aarushi H Shah; Iris A Becene; Katie Truc Nhat H Nguyen; Jennifer J Stuart; Madeline G West; Jane E S Berrill; Jennifer Hankins; Christina P C Borba; Janet W Rich-Edwards Journal: SSM Qual Res Health Date: 2022-07-19
Authors: Rachael M Billock; Matthew R Groenewold; Marie Haring Sweeney; Marie A de Perio; Denise M Gaughan; Sara E Luckhaupt Journal: Am J Infect Control Date: 2022-04-14 Impact factor: 2.918
Authors: Donald E Pathman; Jeffrey Sonis; Thomas E Rauner; Kristina Alton; Anna S Headlee; Jerry N Harrison Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-08-25 Impact factor: 3.006