I know what you are thinking, seriously, another blog on facemasks? Yep! Honestly, we can’t say enough about the importance of facemasks! Adding to the debate, we are now finding that the facemasks we are using may not be effective! A recent publication in Medscape Nurses identifies that all facemasks are NOT equal, varying greatly in efficacy and comfort. The …
Healthcare personnel who care for patients with COVID-19 are at risk for exposure and infection during patient-care related activities and once infected, can spread SARS-CoV-2 to other patients, coworkers and others in the community. In a recent study published on the CDC.gov website, 3,248 health care personnel were observed, 6% had antibody evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, 29% with SARS-CoV-2 …
On a recent conference call with a group of providers, we discussed one of the challenges we continue to face during the pandemic, that of “being prepared”, having sufficient supplies of PPE and understanding the needs in our centers and predicting future utilization. To assist in alleviating the fear of “running out” of PPE, the CDC has provided us with …
Beginning August 28, 2020, the Defense Logistics Agency will direct shipment of N95 respirators to select nursing homes that recently reported having enough supplies for only zero to three days of operations. These respirators are meant to supplement existing supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and will provide a seven-day supply for each nursing home to support an entire shift …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting health care facility risk managers, procurement staff and health care providers that gowns sold as medical gowns including surgical gowns, sold by Laws of Motion PPE (LawsofMotionPPE.com) have potential quality issues that affect the level of fluid barrier protection. The FDA is recommending that gowns manufactured or sold by Laws of …
On March 30, 2020 Battelle announced they had received an emergency go-ahead from the FDA to deploy its decontamination system for personal protective equipment (PPE), allowing healthcare workers to clean and reuse scarce N95 respirator masks. They system is capable of processing up to 80,000 masks per machine, per day, within what looks like a large metal shipping container. What …
We are all struggling with acquiring enough PPE to meet the needs of our residents/staff. It is not a problem that will go away anytime soon, but there are ways to conserve PPE while maintaining appropriate infection control practices. Here are a few ideas: Gloves – should be worn for any contact with a resident or their environment Gowns – …
The spread of COVID-19- Person-to-person transmission most commonly happens during close exposure to a person infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, primarily via respiratory droplets produced when the infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes. Droplets can land in the mouths, noses, or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs of those within close …
As we continue to navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic, many healthcare professionals are becoming numb when it comes to using facemasks. Many of us have been very successful at protecting our residents from the spread of the virus but now is not the time to lower our standards or relax infection control best practices. Here are a few reminders for …
On July 15, 2020, the CDC announced a change to the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for HealthCare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. Eye protection is an important part of PPE in preventing unnecessary exposure. As with any point of entry into the body (i.e., nose, mouth, broken skin, etc.) the eyes are considered high risk …
