William Fischer II, M.D., of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine also co-authored the commentary. Hynes is the director of the Geographic Medicine Center in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Perl is senior epidemiologist for the Johns Hopkins Health System and a consultant to the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR), which is overseeing and coordinating Johns Hopkins’ readiness for any potential Ebola patient. Perl, M.D., M.Sc., and Noreen Hynes, M.D., M.P.H., two Johns Hopkins infectious disease experts. Personal protective equipment, including goggles or face shields, gloves and gowns, are effectively decreasing West African caregivers’ exposure to infected bodily fluids, but workers are still at risk “if removal of protective clothing that is contaminated with infectious bodily fluids is not done in a manner that prevents exposure,” say the authors, who include Trish M. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the physician-specialists from Johns Hopkins and the University of North Carolina say rigorous steps exist - and must be taken - to avoid “inadvertent” contact of frontline caregivers’ exposed skin and mucous membranes to infected body fluids.

Ritualized processes for donning and doffing personal protective equipment needed to prevent further infection and loss of life among health care workers in West Africa.Ī team of American infectious disease and critical care experts is alerting colleagues caring for Ebola patients that how they remove their personal protective gear can be just as crucial as wearing it to prevent exposure to the deadly virus.

Physical exhaustion and emotional fatigue of health workers plays a role in the improper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment and the inadvertent exposure of Ebola. Personal protective equipment, including goggles or face shields, gloves and gowns, are effectively decreasing West African health care workers’ exposure to potential infection with Ebola.Ĭareful removal of such personal protective gear is just as crucial as putting it on properly to prevent exposure to the deadly virus.

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