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Personal protective equipment (PPE) related adverse skin reactions among healthcare workers at the main COVID-19 isolation center in Barbados
journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 16:01 authored by Ambadasu Bharatha, Kandamaran Krishnamurthy, Damian Cohall, Sayeeda Rahman, Corey A Forde, Rhea Corbin-Harte, Nkemcho Ojeh, Russell Kabir, Ali Davod Parsa, Ahbab Mohammad Fazle Rabbi, Md Anwarul Azim MajumderBackground: The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the risk
of transmission of infectious agents significantly among healthcare workers
(HCWs). The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics
of PPE-related adverse skin reactions among HCWs working at the main
COVID-19 isolation center in Barbados.
Methods: A cross-sectional web-based online survey was conducted during
April to June 2021 which recorded demographic information, details of PPE
use and adverse skin reactions including severity and duration of onset
of symptoms.
Results: Most of the respondents used PPE for consecutive days (77.9%), 1–6
h/day (59.2%), and more than a year (62.5%). Fewer than half of the participants
(45.6%) experienced adverse skin reactions from the use of PPE. The reactions
were mostly observed in the cheeks (40.4%) and nose bridges (35.6%). Females
had more reactions than their male counterparts (p = 0.003). The use of N95
masks and a combination of surgical and N95 masks produced adverse effects predominantly in the ears (60%) and cheeks (56.4%). Binary logistic regression
showed that female HCWs (OR = 5.720 95% CI: 1.631, 20.063), doctors (OR =
5.215 95% CI: 0.877, 31.002), and longer duration of PPE use (>1 year) (OR =
2.902 95% CI: 0.958, 8.787) caused a significantly higher prevalence of adverse
skin reactions.
Conclusion: The PPE-related skin reactions were common among HCWs
which mainly occurred due to prolonged use. Preventive measures inclusive of
appropriate training of HCWs on the use of PPE are recommended to minimize
these adverse events
History
Volume
10Publication title
Frontiers in Public HealthISSN
2296-2565External DOI
Publisher
Frontiers Media SAFile version
- Published version
Language
- eng
Official URL
Legacy posted date
2022-10-30Legacy creation date
2022-10-12Legacy Faculty/School/Department
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