An observational study published in American Journal of Infection Control showed that contamination occurred approximately 80% of the time during doffing of PPE.4
The onset of COVID-19 has directly impacted clinical practice in dictating new priorities and policies, many of which are focused on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for providers.1 PPE is indicated for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients, but this definition encircles many who enter the ED or ICU with critical symptoms such as high fever, hypotension and other signals of shock.
Since the early days of the pandemic, the supply of PPE has struggled to meet demand. The CDC has recognized the ongoing shortages as an issue and has provided guidance on how to optimize supply.2 Part of this strategy is to implement extended use of facemasks and limited re-use. A recent survey of over 14,000 nurses conducted by the American Nursing Association found that the majority feel unsafe with PPE reuse.3 For both management of safety and time, minimizing donning and doffing PPE is crucial.
However, when you have a patient with shock or hypotension, traditional fluid resuscitation methods can require multiple trips in and out of the patient room and significant time spent waiting for or cleaning equipment. In contrast, the LifeFlow Fluid Infuser allows clinicians to set-up and complete a fluid bolus in minutes, with no cleaning or decontamination. Assess the patient response using bedside markers of perfusion in minutes, without having to repeatedly don and doff PPE.
It is unclear how long these new protective measures will be in play, but for now, this is our new normal. We must continue to find new tools and methods for reducing contamination risk of patients and providers. Minimizing PPE changes and utilizing single-patient disposable equipment can help.
Interested in learning more about LifeFlow? Contact us.
1. Fact sheet: Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) When Caring for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19. CDC 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/A_FS_HCP_COVID19_PPE.pdf
2. Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE Equipment. CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Updated May 18, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html.
3. American Nurses Association COVID-19 member survey. Press release issued 3 June 2020. https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2020/ana-survey-of-14k-nurses-finds-access-to-ppe-remains-a-top-concern/.
4. Kang J, et al. Use of personal protective equipment among health care personnel: Results of clinical observations and simulations. Am J Infect Control. 2017;45(1):17-23. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.08.011.