Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in COVID 19 pandemic: related symptoms and adverse reactions in healthcare workers and general population
Battista, Rosa Alessia ; Ferraro, Milena ; Piccioni, Lucia Oriella ; Malzanni, Giulia Elvira ; Bussi, Mario
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2021
63
2
80-85
epidemic disease ; personal protective equipment ; exposure assessment ; respiratory impairment ; skin allergies ; epidemiologic study
Protective measures
https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002100
English
Bibliogr.
"Objectives:
To assess prevalence of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)-related symptoms and adverse reactions during Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemics.
Methods:
We conducted an observational study among people exposed to various degree of infectious risk. Data were collected with a self-administered online questionnaire.
Results:
The entire cohort complained about a wide range of adverse reactions: respiratory symptoms affected 80.3% of respondents, 68.5% referred pressure-related skin lesions, fewer manifested a dermatosis of different grade or ocular symptoms. Most of the affected individuals belonged to healthcare staff and manifestations were predicted by wearing time (more than 6 h/d). Moreover, symptoms were higher in the healthcare staff wearing N95/FFP2 respirator mask.
Conclusions:
Given the crucial role of PPE to contain the pandemic infection, more attention has to be paid to exposed categories, establishing preventive measure of side effects to ensure total safety."
Digital
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.