Healthcare workers \u2013 particularly those working on COVID-19 wards \u2013 are much more likely to be exposed to coronavirus, so it\u2019s important we understand the best ways of keeping them safe<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mark Ferris<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Since the start of the pandemic, CUH has been screening its healthcare workers regularly for SARS-CoV-2, even where they show no symptoms. They found that healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 were at a greater risk of infection than staff on non-COVID-19 wards, even when using the recommended respiratory protective equipment. As a result, its infection control committee implemented a change in respiratory protective equipment for staff on COVID-19 wards, from FRSMs to FFP3 respirators.<\/p>\n
Prior to the change in respiratory protective equipment, cases were higher on COVID-19 wards compared with non-COVID-19 wards in seven out of the eight weeks analysed by the team. Following the change in protective equipment, the incidence of infection on the two types of ward was similar.<\/p>\n
The results suggest that almost all cases among healthcare workers on non-COVID-19 wards were caused by community-acquired infection, whereas cases among healthcare workers on COVID-19 wards were caused by both community-acquired infection and direct, ward-based infection from patients with COVID-19 \u2013 but that these direct infections were effectively mitigated by the use of FFP3 respirators.<\/p>\n
To calculate the risk of infection for healthcare workers working on COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards, the researchers developed a simple mathematical model.<\/p>\n
Dr Mark Ferris from the University of Cambridge\u2019s Occupational Health Service, one of the study\u2019s authors, said: \u201cHealthcare workers \u2013 particularly those working on COVID-19 wards \u2013 are much more likely to be exposed to coronavirus, so it\u2019s important we understand the best ways of keeping them safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on data collected during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the UK, we developed a mathematical model to look at the risks faced by those staff dealing with COVID-19 patients on a day to day basis. This showed us the huge effect that using better PPE could have in reducing the risk to healthcare workers.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to their model, the risk of direct infection from working on a non-COVID-19 ward was low throughout the study period, and consistently lower than the risk of community-based exposure.<\/p>\n
By contrast, the risk of direct infection from working on a COVID-19 ward before the change in respiratory protective equipment was considerably higher than the risk of community-based exposure: staff on COVID-19 wards were at 47 times greater risk of acquiring infection while on the ward than staff working on a non-COVID-19 ward.<\/p>\n
Crucially, however, the model showed that the introduction of FFP3 respirators provided up to 100% protection against direct, ward-based COVID-19 infection.<\/p>\n
Dr Chris Illingworth from the MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge, said: \u201cBefore the face masks were upgraded, the majority of infections among healthcare workers on the COVID-19 wards were likely due to direct exposure to patients with COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce FFP3 respirators were introduced, the number of cases attributed to exposure on COVID-19 wards dropped dramatically \u2013 in fact, our model suggests that FFP3 respirators may have cut ward-based infection to zero.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Nicholas Matheson from the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: \u201cAlthough more research will be needed to confirm our findings, we recommend that, in accordance with the precautionary principle, guidelines for respiratory protective equipment are further revised until more definitive information is available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Michael Weekes from the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, added: \u201cOur data suggest there\u2019s an urgent need to look at the PPE offered to healthcare workers on the frontline. Upgrading the equipment so that FFP3 masks are offered to all healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 could reduce the number of infections, keep more hospital staff safe and remove some of the burden on already stretched healthcare services caused by absence of key staff due to illness. Vaccination is clearly also an absolute priority for anyone who hasn\u2019t yet taken up their offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research was funded by Wellcome, the Addenbrooke\u2019s Charitable Trust, UK Research and Innovations, and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce FFP3 respirators were introduced, the number of cases attributed to exposure on COVID-19 wards dropped dramatically \u2013 in fact, our model suggests that FFP3 respirators may have cut ward-based infection to zero.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/by.png\")
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\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License<\/a>.<\/p>\n