Posted: July 14th, 2022

Effects of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Infection Rates

Effects of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Infection Rates
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has and continues to play a vital role in preventing the transmission of infections. The concept of PPE can be traced back many decades ago and was primarily used to prevent contamination from chemicals used during wars. Leonardo Da Vinci is believed to have invented the respirators, which were widely used by soldiers during the 16th century to protect themselves from toxic chemicals. Since then, the respirator technology and other forms of PPE have developed and standardized for use in a health care setting for protection against highly infectious diseases.
Today, there are more advanced and reliable PPE that is used. In 1970, Centers for Disease Control published a manual titled “Isolation Techniques for Use in Hospitals,” which recommended the use of PPEs such as face masks, goggles, gloves, face shields, gowns, and coveralls. For instance, the N95 respirator mask is mandated for use by health care providers handling patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and other respiratory airborne infections.
Throughout the history of pandemics, including the SARS, H1N1, Ebola, and the Ongoing Coronavirus, PPEs have played an integral role in preventing the transmission of these highly infectious respiratory infections to health care workers who are actively involved in caring for the patients. However, availing the equipment to health care workers is only helpful if they are trained on how to use it. Appropriate and adequate training has been linked to lower rates of infection.
Different studies conducted have supported the effectiveness of PPE as a protection measure against highly infectious diseases. An analysis of six case-control studies conducted during the SARS outbreak in 2003 showed that the use of PPE and sanitizing the hands regularly was very effective in averting transmission of the virus. According to the study, washing hands, wearing face masks and gloves reduced the infection rate by 55%, 57%, and 68%, respectively. Applying all three measures, cumulatively lowered the infection rates by more than 90%. During the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, dozens of health care workers were exposed, infected, and killed by the virus. A study conducted during the outbreak showed that the use of the N95 respirator helped to protect uninfected health care providers from contracting the H1N1 virus.
Amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there are debates concerning the selection and effectiveness of the different types of PPE for protection in a healthcare setting. This can be linked to the lack of sufficient, quality, and evidence-based studies to support the effectiveness regarding the use of PPE.

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