Articles: personal-protective-equipment.
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This narrative review evaluates the evidence regarding the protection offered by isolation gowns, approaches to imparting antimicrobial activity to gowns, and the environmental impacts of gown use, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a search of the Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for articles published between January 1, 2019 to February 20, 2024. We found that current standards pertaining to isolation gowns might be irrelevant to the protection of healthcare workers from pathogen transmission, as they focus primarily on fluid barrier resistance values that are not reflective of all transmission conditions in hospitals. ⋯ However, evidence of the effectiveness of such techniques in clinical settings is scarce. We advocate for standardised guidelines inclusive of common pathogen survival tests, comfort, and durability, which reflect the actual infection risks encountered by healthcare workers, to improve the safety and efficacy of isolation gowns in hospital settings. Further research into the clinical effectiveness of antimicrobial gowns and their long-term implications on the environment is also warranted.
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Radiation Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) is the subject of safety guidance from the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA). This pilot study aimed to examine potential performance differences in Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) Higher Surgical Trainees (HST) undertaking simulated Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) surgery related to different RPPE attire. ⋯ Important differences in surgeon physiological measures (HR, temperature) and self-reported measures of comfort and temperature were found related to RPPE style. Understanding the effects that specific RPPE attire has on performance should influence RPPE choice and the findings help inform future research into this important topic.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Empathy Unmasked: Patient Perception of Physician Empathy in an Oncologic Emergency Setting. A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Personal Protective Equipment Wear versus Unmasked Video Communication.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine emerged as an important option that supports and facilitates clinical practice, however, its usefulness in emergency settings that treat patients with cancer is unclear. ⋯ Cancer patients presenting to the emergency department perceive empathy and compassion equally when approached by physicians virtually without PPE or in person while wearing PPE. Virtual services for specific aspects of clinical practice during emergency department visits in an oncology setting can be implemented to ensure safer interactions between patients and physicians without compromising the physician-patient relationship.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jan 2025
A cost analysis of the anaesthetic management of patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a tertiary referral hospital in Queensland, Australia.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Australia resulted in significant additional infection control precautions for consumers and the health workforce. Prior to widespread vaccine availability, substantial changes were made to the operating theatre management of patients presenting for surgery with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19. This study aimed to calculate the actual costs of operating theatre care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. ⋯ Twenty-four patients with suspected COVID-19 infection underwent surgery between May 2020 and February 2021. Cost analysis revealed a mean (standard deviation (SD), range) increase in costs of providing perioperative care for COVID-19 suspect patients of A$2252 (A$2570, A$315.85-10,398); that is, a mean of 207.5% more than usual care costs. This was primarily due to the increased number of staff and time required to complete these cases with appropriate infection control.