Study: PPE monitors nearly eliminated COVID-19 spread to HCPs

The use of infection prevention nurses as personal protective equipment (PPE) monitors contributed to near zero transmission of COVID-19 to health care providers (HCPs) at the Chapel Hill (N.C.) Medical Center between April 1, 2020, and Feb. 15, 2021. The study appeared in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC). Following web-based training, the monitors were deployed in high-risk COVID-19 containment zones to aid staff in donning and doffing PPE. The medical center admitted 1,427 COVID-19-positive patients during the study period and had only two possible health care-associated COVID-19 transmissions on the containment units. The authors cited research indicating 40% of health care personnel make errors while doffing their PPE, causing them to self-contaminate skin and clothing. (AJIC article, 8/18/21)