Prevention of COVID-19 transmission in the healthcare setting

COVID-19 PPE Summary Table

Contact Category	Precations	Room Type
General (all persons)	Social distancing; meticulous hygiene; basic mask	NA
Undifferentiated patients at risk (e.g. prior to evaluation or testing)	Contact and droplet precautions, including eye protection	Negative-pressure NOT required
Persons Under Investigation	Contact and droplet precautions, including eye protection	Negative-pressure NOT required
Aerosol-Generating Procedures	Contact and airborne precautions, including eye protection	Negative-pressure required

See prevention of COVID-19 transmission in the healthcare setting for full PPE recommendations

Aerosol-Generating Procedures

Due to higher risk of aerosolizing droplets; infection itself doesn’t seem to be spread via airborne route

Recommended Provider PPE

Contact (including eye protection) and airborne precautions

• N95 mask or higher-level respirator (e.g. PAPR), plus eye protection, gloves, and gown
  • Consider head coverage: sterile disposable cap with gown or bunny suit
  • Consider two pairs gloves, one under sleeves of gown and one over
  • Consider shoe covers
  • Consider buddy system for donning/doffing
    • If using PAPR, then need pre-assigned RN outside the room to help decontaminate it by wiping it down with purple wipes before you take it off
• Negative pressure room required, if at all possible
• Limit personnel in room to only those essential for patient care

Mask Use Technique

• Mask donning (often incorrectly done):
  • Wash hands BEFORE touching mask
  • Grip mask by loops/bands/ties only
  • Coloured portion typically faces outward
  • Mold / pinch the stiff edge to the shape of your nose
  • Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth AND chin
  • Make sure you are up to date with fit testing
• Mask removal:
  • Wash hands BEFORE touching mask
  • Only make contact with the loops/bands/ties. DON’T TOUCH THE MASK ITSELF!

Aerosol-generating procedures list

Minimize exposure with these procedures when possible

• Bag-valve-mask (BVM)
• CPR
• CPAP/BiPAP
• Intubation
• Nebulizer administration (if possible, use MDI instead)
• Bronchoscopy
• Chest physiotherapy
• High-Flow Nasal Cannula

See Also

• COVID-19
• COVID-19: Example hospital protocols
• COVID-19: Management of recovered patients
• COVID-19 (peds)
• COVID-19 Vaccine (Moderna)
• COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech)
• COVID-19 in pregnancy

External Links

• Main CDC Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Setting

Video

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