Health authorities clarify position on COVID aerosol spread Despite the updated guidance, the ICEG stance on PPE is that healthcare workers ‘may consider’ the use of a P2 or N95 respirator.
Australia’s most stringent PPE recommendations just got stronger The break from national guidelines means all Victorian healthcare workers must use full airborne protection with probable or confirmed COVID cases.
Does Victoria really have the world’s best PPE guidance for healthcare workers? Questions have been raised after Victoria’s healthcare safety chief described the state’s approach as the strongest in the world.
CDC the latest to acknowledge COVID aerosol spread Unlike most parts of Australia, the US public health agency recommends the use of N95 or equivalent respirators when treating suspected cases.
‘Assume it’s everywhere’: aerosol fears underpin fight against COVID healthcare infections Healthcare must learn from high staff infection rates and get ‘pandemic fit’ in case of a third wave, an expert says.
Many N95 masks do not properly fit women or people of Asian descent UPDATED: A literature review has found a lack of fit-testing may be placing some healthcare professionals at higher levels of COVID risk.
New COVID measures to protect healthcare workers It is hoped a review of infection control guidelines, ‘disease detectives’, and enhanced surveillance will reduce transmission rates.
GPs in high COVID areas should get respirators fit-tested: Experts GPs have one of the lowest P2/N95 fit-testing rates among Australian healthcare workers, with new research indicating it may be less than 5%.
Go to the market: Government-supplied PPE for GPs a ‘fallback’ Frontline GPs should largely rely on commercial supplies for their own essential personal protective equipment, governments have confirmed.
Questions raised over respirators used in Australian hospitals Victorian and NSW public hospitals are using a batch of respirators that are at risk of tearing and may not meet Australian manufacturing standards.