To PAPR or not to PAPR?
1Respiratory Therapy and Anaesthesia Services, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
Summary
During Ebola outbreaks, healthcare professionals need guidance on isolation precautions. This review compares powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) and N95 masks for aerosol-generating procedures, highlighting PAPR implementation experiences.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Occupational Health
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Ebola outbreaks necessitate updated guidance on isolation precautions for healthcare professionals.
- Aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) pose significant risks during infectious disease outbreaks.
- Current guidelines recommend specific respiratory protection, such as N95 respirators or PAPRs, during AGPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advantages and disadvantages of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) compared to N95 filtering facepiece respirators.
- To discuss the implementation of a PAPR policy at a healthcare facility.
- To emphasize the importance of training and quality control for personal protective equipment (PPE).
Main Methods:
- Literature review comparing PAPRs and N95 respirators for AGPs.
- Case study on PAPR policy implementation at Jewish General Hospital.
- Discussion of training needs for donning and doffing PPE.
Main Results:
- PAPRs offer an alternative to N95 masks during AGPs, with specific advantages and disadvantages.
- Successful implementation of a PAPR policy requires robust training and quality control.
- Respiratory therapists play a crucial role in selecting appropriate respiratory protection.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals require clear guidance on respiratory protection during Ebola outbreaks.
- Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are a viable option for protection during aerosol-generating procedures.
- Effective implementation of respiratory protection policies involves comprehensive training and the active participation of frontline staff.
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