Serious geopolitical and social forces are converging to create the conditions, on a scale unique in history, for a major respiratory pandemic. Prioritizing the protection of healthcare workers will be key to containing such a pandemic.
Protection of healthcare workers is key to containing and managing respiratory pandemics. Serious geopolitical and social forces are converging to create the conditions, on a scale unique in history, for a major respiratory pandemic. When dealing with an outbreak of respiratory infection, the focus is on understanding disease transmission, and ensuring that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and properly utilised by all at-risk staff. Few hospitals - let alone the broader responder community - are adequately equipped and ready to respond to a major respiratory pandemic. In such a global crisis, the success of controlling such an outbreak in the initial phase will rely on the health and preparedness of healthcare teams.
Prioritising protection of healthcare workers from primary to regional hospitals can ensure a resilient frontline defense, and, in a respiratory outbreak the correct use of respiratory PPE is central to healthcare worker protection. Recent experience of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), 2002 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015, highlighted the vulnerabilities around use and supply shortages of disposable respirators.
Commentators and industry experts are advising infection control teams to examine their PPE procedures and evaluate new re-useable respiratory protection devices in their preparations to protect staff and contain and manage an imminent public health crisis.
Sponsored by:
CleanSpace® Health & Safety is a specialist in design and manufacture of advanced personal respiratory protection equipment. CleanSpace Respirators are the lightest and smallest powered respirators in the world delivering high protection, comfort and cost effective respiratory protection solutions. Developed by leading biomedical engineers from the medical device industry who are specialists in positive pressure airflow control and mask design, CleanSpace respirators conform to the highest standards in safety, quality and reliability. For more information www.cleanspacetechnology.com/healthusa
Ensuring Safety and Comfort: The Urgent Need for Well-Fitted PPE in Health Care
April 5th 2024Personal protective equipment (PPE) stands as the first line of defense against infectious diseases in health care. Yet, the issue of ill-fitting PPE, especially for women, remains a significant challenge.
COVID-19 Harmonization: Balancing Risks and Benefits of CDC's Latest Move
March 11th 2024The CDC's recent decision to align recommendations for respiratory viruses, particularly COVID-19, has garnered support from the public and infectious disease societies. However, as the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) lends its backing to the CDC's harmonization efforts, concerns persist regarding the implications of this shift, especially considering the Omicron variant's unique characteristics and the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19's multi-system impacts.
Voices of Resilience: Q&A With the Editor of "Corona City: Voices From an Epicenter"
March 1st 2024Step into the diverse and poignant world of "Corona City: Voices From an Epicenter" with editor Lorraine Ash, MA. In this insightful Q&A, learn about the origins of this remarkable anthology, the challenges faced in capturing raw, unfiltered narratives of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lasting impact of these stories on readers and communities alike.
Rare Disease Day 2024: Spotlight on Rare Infectious Diseases
February 29th 2024Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024, shines a global light on the impact of rare diseases, including rare infectious diseases. With a focus on early diagnosis and treatment access, this day highlights the struggles of those with rare conditions.