As part of the health emergency with the new COVID 19 virus, the World Health Organization recently published its provisional guidelines for infection control in the care of patients with the new coronavirus in health establishments.
Standard precautions include hand and respiratory hygiene, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) according to a risk assessment, injection safety practices, safe waste management, proper linens, environmental cleaning, and sterilization of patient-care equipment.
However, certain acts generating aerosols have been associated with an increased risk of coronavirus transmission. Some aerosol-generating procedures, such as tracheal intubation, non-invasive ventilation, tracheotomy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, manual ventilation before intubation, and bronchoscopy, have been associated with an increased risk of transmission of coronaviruses. According to WHO’s Interim guidelines, health care centers must make sure that healthcare workers (HCWs):
- Perform procedures in an adequately ventilated room – that is, natural ventilation with air flow of at least 160 L/s per patient or in negative- pressure rooms with at least 12 air changes per hour and controlled direction of air flow when using mechanical ventilation
- Use a particulate respirator at least as protective as a US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified N95, European Union (EU) standard FFP2, or equivalent.
- Use eye protection (i.e. goggles or a face shield).
- Wear a clean, non-sterile, long-sleeved gown and gloves.
- Limit the number of persons present in the room to the absolute minimum required for the patient’s care and support.
ATA supports the medical profession by maintaining the delivery of air decontamination devices to hospitals. We are doing everything we can to be actors in this epidemic situation.
Reference: the World Health Organisation website, check here
