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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: American Frontline Healthcare Personnel's Access to and Use of Personal Protective Equipment Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Authors: Rich-Edwards, Janet W; Ding, Ming; Rocheleau, Carissa M; Boiano, James M; Kang, Jae H; Becene, Iris; Nguyen, Long H; Chan, Andrew T; Hart, Jaime E; Chavarro, Jorge E; Lawson, Christina C

Published In J Occup Environ Med, (2021 Nov 01)

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To quantify adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) for U.S. healthcare personnel (HCP) at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with infection risk. METHODS: March-May 2020 survey of the national Nurses' Health Studies and the Growing Up Today study regarding self-reported PPE access, use, and reuse. COVID-19 endpoints included SARS-CoV-2 tests and COVID-19 status predicted from symptoms. RESULTS: Nearly 22% of 22,232 frontline HCP interacting with COVID-19 patients reported sometimes or always lacking PPE. Fifty percent of HCP reported not needing respirators, including 13% of those working in COVID-19 units. Lack of PPE was cross-sectionally associated with two-fold or greater odds of COVID-19 among those who interacted with infected patients. CONCLUSION: These data show the need to improve the U.S. infection prevention culture of safety when confronting a novel pathogen.

PubMed ID: 34238908 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: COVID-19*; Health Personnel; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Pandemics; Personal Protective Equipment*; SARS-CoV-2; United States/epidemiology

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