Novel H1N1 Influenza and Respiratory Protection for Health Care Workers
By : Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Bonnie Rogers, Dr.P.H., R.N., and Lewis R. Goldfrank, M.D.
Your hospital has been seeing a large number of patients with influenza-like symptoms, many of whom turn out to be infected with the novel H1N1 influenza A virus. You have been asked to consult on the case of a 28-year-old woman who is in an isolation room because of an influenza-like presentation and shortness of breath. You put on a gown, carefully clean your hands with hand soap or an alcoholic gel, pull on gloves, and reach for a mask. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of an N95 filtering facepiece respirator. Some states and many professional groups have suggested that a standard surgical mask is satisfactory in this situation, except when a clinician is performing high-risk procedures, such as airway suctioning, in which case the N95 is still recommended. What should the hospital and its infection-control officer provide when you reach into the box for a respiratory protective device? What should be available to others who will enter this room, including nurses, respiratory technicians, cleaners, and food servers?
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Your hospital has been seeing a large number of patients with influenza-like symptoms, many of whom turn out to be infected with the novel H1N1 influenza A virus. You have been asked to consult on the case of a 28-year-old woman who is in an isolation room because of an influenza-like presentation and shortness of breath. You put on a gown, carefully clean your hands with hand soap or an alcoholic gel, pull on gloves, and reach for a mask. Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of an N95 filtering facepiece respirator. Some states and many professional groups have suggested that a standard surgical mask is satisfactory in this situation, except when a clinician is performing high-risk procedures, such as airway suctioning, in which case the N95 is still recommended. What should the hospital and its infection-control officer provide when you reach into the box for a respiratory protective device? What should be available to others who will enter this room, including nurses, respiratory technicians, cleaners, and food servers?
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