COVID-19: Resource Scarcity
PPE Shortage and Conserving Supplies Guidelines
In case of PPE shortage or in an attempt to save on PPE supplies, the following guidelines were approved by CDC 3/13/20:
- Same respirator can be worn for multiple serial patient contacts (e.g. in between successive COVID/PUI (patients under investigation) without exchanging respirator. Therefore, in between each patient:
- No need to change mask or eye protection
- BUT need to change gown and gloves
- Respirator reuse possible? Higher risk because of having to touch the mask and either self-inoculate or transmit to another patient (e.g. wear it for a patient, then you remove, and then you put it back on)
- If you must do this because of limited supplies, don and doff properly and perform proper hand hygiene in between
- CDC / NIOSH will allow certain N95s to be used beyond manufacture-designated shelf life
- See list of appropriate models here (manufactured between 2003-2013)
- N95 Reuse? Probably okay to re-use same N95 during an 8 hour shift as long as no tears or visible contamination. Store facedown in labeled re-sealable bag/container.
- Based on non peer reviewed reports from Washington State