RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Contamination: a comparison of 2 personal protective systems
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 249
OP 254
DO 10.1503/cmaj.060094
VO 175
IS 3
A1 Jorge E. Zamora
A1 John Murdoch
A1 Brian Simchison
A1 Andrew G. Day
YR 2006
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/175/3/249.abstract
AB Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in self-contamination rates and levels of contact and droplet protection associated with enhanced respiratory and contact precautions (E-RCP) and a personal protective system that included a full body suit, personal protective equipment and a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled crossover study, 50 participants donned and removed E-RCP and PAPR in random order. Surrogate contamination consisted of fluorescein solution and ultraviolet (UV) light– detectable paste, which was applied after each ensemble was donned. A blinded evaluator inspected participants for contamination using a UV lamp after removal of each ensemble. Areas of contamination were counted and measured in square centimetres. Donning and removal violations were recorded. The primary end point was the presence of any contamination on the skin or base clothing layer. Results: Participants wearing E-RCP were more likely to experience skin and base-clothing contamination; their contamination episodes measuring ≥ 1 cm2 were more frequent, and they had larger total areas of contamination (all p < 0.0001). The anterior neck, forearms, wrists and hands were the likeliest zones for contamination. Participants donning PAPR committed more donning procedure violations (p = 0.0034). Donning and removing the PAPR system took longer than donning and removing E-RCP garments (p < 0.0001). Interpretation: Participants wearing E-RCP were more likely to experience contamination of their skin and base clothing layer. Those wearing PAPR required significantly more time to don and remove the ensemble and violated donning procedures more frequently.