PPE and Infection

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Anchor lead: Does personal protective equipment prevent infectious disease among healthcare workers? Elizabeth Tracey reports

Personal protective equipment or PPE may not adequately prevent infections among healthcare workers, a recent study concluded, with those working in the healthcare field 3.4 times more likely to become infected with COVID-19 than those not working in the field. Patricia Davidson, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, comments.

Davidson: We really to need learn a lot more from what people have done in the global health settings, that have taken care of these very infectious rampant diseases. Because much of what we have done in developed nations more often than not PPE has been about protecting the patient. The majority of where PPE is worn people have had bone marrow transplants, people with immunosuppression. So we really need to think about what is an appropriate occupational health and safety model for the future.  :34

At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.