COVID-19: Resource Scarcity

PPE Shortage and Conserving Supplies Guidelines

In case of PPE shortage or in an attempt to save on PPE supplies, the following guidelines were approved by CDC 3/13/20:

Same respirator can be worn for multiple serial patient contacts (e.g. in between successive COVID/PUI (patients under investigation) without exchanging respirator. Therefore, in between each patient:
No need to change mask or eye protection
BUT need to change gown and gloves
Respirator reuse possible? Higher risk because of having to touch the mask and either self-inoculate or transmit to another patient (e.g. wear it for a patient, then you remove, and then you put it back on)
If you must do this because of limited supplies, don and doff properly and perform proper hand hygiene in between
CDC / NIOSH will allow certain N95s to be used beyond manufacture-designated shelf life
- See list of appropriate models here (manufactured between 2003-2013)
N95 Reuse? Probably okay to re-use same N95 during an 8 hour shift as long as no tears or visible contamination. Store facedown in labeled re-sealable bag/container.
- Based on non peer reviewed reports from Washington State

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