Efficacy and feasibility of a novel semi-facial respirator with chitosan nanoparticles on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare professionals: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that semi-facial respirators provide protection against contamination in high-risk environments, although the COVID-19 pandemic called for greater protection and viral inactivation capacity. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a novel semi-facial respirator containing chitosan nanoparticles, compared with a conventional N95 respirator on the incidence of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare professionals. The secondary outcomes were influenza infection, usability and comfort. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial within a large public hospital (reference for COVID-19 patients) carried out between March 2021 and June 2023. We included 230 healthcare professionals exposed to SARS-Cov-2 and influenza, working in emergency departments, hospital wards, and intensive care units. Participants were assessed at baseline, after 10 days, and 21 days of follow-up. Researchers, participants, and outcome assessors were blinded to the allocated groups. Outcomes were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate comparisons using logistic regression. Crude (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were estimated, followed by 95% confidence intervals (CIs 95%). We adopted intention-to-treat (ITT) and complete-case (CC) analyses. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were considered homogeneous between groups, and usability and comfort were reported as excellent in both groups. Non-significant differences were found for all outcomes, both in the ITT and CC analyses. The incidence of COVID-19 and influenza were, respectively, cOR: 0.96 [CI95%: 0.21-4.42] and cOR: 1.25 [CI95%: 0.34-4.62]; and aOR: 1.08 [CI95%: 0.21-5.47] and aOR: 1.11 [CI95%: 0.17-7.01]. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the incidence of SARS-Cov-2 and influenza infections were similar between the new respirator compared to the conventional respirator. Furthermore, we observed that usability and comfort were similar and considered excellent for both respirators. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04490200, 29/07/2020).

A novel N95 respirator with chitosan nanoparticles: mechanical, antiviral, microbiological and cytotoxicity evaluations.

BACKGROUND: It is known that some sectors of hospitals have high bacteria and virus loads that can remain as aerosols in the air and represent a significant health threat for patients and mainly professionals that work in the place daily. Therefore, the need for a respirator able to improve the filtration barrier of N95 masks and even inactivating airborne virus and bacteria becomes apparent. Such a fact motivated the creation of a new N95 respirator which employs chitosan nanoparticles on its intermediate layer (SN95 + CNP). RESULTS: The average chitosan nanoparticle size obtained was 165.20 ± 35.00 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.36 ± 0.03 and a zeta potential of 47.50 ± 1.70 mV. Mechanical tests demonstrate that the SN95 + CNP respirator is more resistant and meets the safety requisites of aerosol penetration, resistance to breath and flammability, presenting higher potential to filtrate microbial and viral particles when compared to conventional SN95 respirators. Furthermore, biological in vitro tests on bacteria, fungi and mammalian cell lines (HaCat, Vero E6 and CCL-81) corroborate the hypothesis that our SN95 + CNP respirator presents strong antimicrobial activity and is safe for human use. There was a reduction of 96.83% of the alphacoronavirus virus and 99% of H1N1 virus and MHV-3 betacoronavirus after 120 min of contact compared to the conventional respirator (SN95), demonstrating that SN95 + CNP have a relevant potential as personal protection equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Due to chitosan nanotechnology, our novel N95 respirator presents improved mechanical, antimicrobial and antiviral characteristics.

Aspectos da insônia no adulto e a relação com o desempenho ocupacional / Insomnia aspects in adults and the relationship with the occupationalperformance

A insônia é conceituada como a dificuldade de iniciar ou manter o sono ou insatisfação com a qualidade do sono e que pode interferir no desempenho das atividades sociais e cognitivas. Este trabalho teórico buscou estudar a insônia no adulto e suasalterações que acometem o desempenho ocupacional. O estudo desenvolveu revisão bibliográfica do tipo narrativa do período de 2002 a 2012, realizada nas bases de dados eletrônicas utilizando como descritores, em português e em inglês, insônia e desempenho ocupacional. Foram encontrados 398 artigos, e selecionados 16 artigos. As publicações possuem maior frequência no ano de 2012 e apenas artigos científicos na línguainglesa estavam relacionados ao tema de pesquisa. Os principais acometimentos relacionados com o desempenho ocupacional dos indivíduos adultos referem-se aos prejuízos apresentados em diferentes contextos como no ambiente escolar, familiar, social e do trabalho. Dentre esses aspectos que interferem no desempenho ocupacional destacam-se: alterações cognitivas; fadiga duranteo dia; menor produtividade seja no trabalho ou nas atividades diárias de modo geral; absenteísmo, destacando-se esse aspecto relacionado ao trabalho; distúrbios de humor; ansiedade; relações familiares e sociais prejudicadas; e acidentes no trabalho.

Insomnia is conceptualized as a disorder defined by the existence of difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or dissatisfaction with the quality of sleep and it can interfere with the performance of cognitive and social activities. This theoretical study aimed to study about the insomnia in adults and the changes that affect the occupational performance. The studydeveloped a bibliographic review of narrative’s type of the period 2002 to 2012, held in electronic databases using as descriptors, in Portuguese and in English, insônia and desempenho ocupacional. It was found 398 articles, and selected 16 articles. The publications have a higher frequency in the year 2012 and only scientificarticles in English language were related to the research topic. The main disorders related with the occupational performance of adults relate to losses presented in different contexts such as in the school environment, family, social and work. Among these aspects that interfere in occupational performance stand out: cognitive changes, fatigue during the day; lower productivity at work or in daily activities in general; absenteeism, highlighting related to work; mood disorders; anxiety; family relationshipsand social disadvantage; and accidents at work.