Hospital respiratory protection practices in 6 U.S. states: a public health evaluation study.
Am J Infect Control
; 43(1): 63-71, 2015 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25564126
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Lessons learned from the influenza A (H1N1) virus revealed a need to better understand hospitals' respiratory protection programmatic practice gaps. This article reports findings from a multistate assessment of hospitals' adherence to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's respiratory protection program (RPP) requirements and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's infection control guidance.METHODS:
Onsite surveys were conducted in 98 acute care hospitals in 6 U.S. states, including >1,500 hospital managers, unit managers, and health care workers. Descriptive statistics were used to assess hospital adherence.RESULTS:
Most acute care hospitals adhere to requirements for initial medical evaluations, fit testing, training, and recommended respiratory protection when in close contact with patients who have suspected or confirmed seasonal influenza. Low hospital adherence was found for respiratory protection with infectious diseases requiring airborne precautions, aerosol-generating procedures with seasonal influenza, and checking of the respirator's user seal. Hospitals' adherence was also low with follow-up program evaluations, medical re-evaluations, and respirator maintenance.CONCLUSION:
Efforts should be made to closely examine ways of strengthening hospitals' RPPs to ensure the program's ongoing effectiveness and workers' proper selection and use of respiratory protection. Implications for improved RPPs and practice are discussed.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio
/
Infección Hospitalaria
/
Salud Laboral
/
Control de Infecciones
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Infect Control
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Nueva Caledonia