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Hi
I am wondering if there is any evidence or instances someone can share- in relation to the use of surgical masks compared to the D95 when attending to outbreaks. Following the advice by the Aged Care Infection and Prevention Control Guide (pg 4- “For most situations when an aged care worker is caring for a person with a respiratory infection, this Guide recommends that a surgical mask with eye protection is worn. In some unusual, infrequent, and higher risk situations (for example, during aerosol-generating procedures), the use of a particulate filter respirator (PFR) may be appropriate instead of a surgical mask. This Guide recommends that the IPC lead or person responsible for IPC be consulted before a PFR is used in aged care settings”)- we have introduced surgical masks for general implementation when there is a gastro our respiratory outbreak- however we are finding staff challenging with this- and are assuming that the transfer to surgical masks is exposing them to transmission. I would like to seek any experiences of others in this space- or is there any further evidence for any potential increases in staff exposure following the introduction of surgical masks over the D95 for management of outbreaks, in particular respiratory outbreaks
ThankyouMilja
Thank you Milja
Great questions.
To note: ACIPC released a position statement: The use of particulate filter respirators (PFR) masks for the management of COVID-19 in healthcare: https://www.acipc.org.au/position-statement-on-pfr-masks-in-covid-19-management/
This recommends the use of respirator masks (N95/P2) during all care of a person with COVID-19.According to the Aged Care IPC Guide and also the National IPC Guidelines the use of either mask (surgical or respirator N95/P2) in the presence of COVID -19 should be risk assessed.
ACIPC also addressed this same question with ACSQHC late last year – in response they have placed resources on the FAQ section of the Aged Care IPC Guide for which they based this change: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/aged-care-infection-prevention-and-control-guide
Here are the resources provided:
Infection prevention and control in the context of COVID-19: a guideline, 21 December 2023
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC-guideline-2023.4P2/N95 respirators & surgical masks to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection: Effectiveness & adverse effects
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35151628/Personal protective equipment for preventing highly infectious diseases due to exposure to contaminated body fluids in healthcare staff
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011621.pub4/fullIn regards to PPE for ARI and gastro – recommendation would be that its not one type fits all – but rather the type of PPE should marry with the means of transmission. i.e. if transmission is via contact, PPE should be contact precautions (gloves and long sleeve gown/apron) (scabies, shingles, infected wound, C.diff, gastro); if the transmission is via droplet and contact, PPE should be contact and droplet precautions (gloves, long sleeve gown/apron, eye protection and surgical mask) (Influenza, RSV, risk assessed Norovirus); if the transmission is airborne, PPE should be respirator, eye protection – additional contact precautions may be required (COVID-19, chicken Pox, TB)
The ACSQHC transmission precaution posters are great to identify this: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/standard-and-transmission-based-precaution-posters
Hope that helps
