Personal Protective Equipment: Current Best Practices for Orthopedic Teams

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems.
• Rapidly evolving understanding of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates dynamic adjustments in clinical practices.
• Limited high-level evidence complicates the establishment of definitive personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline current best practices for PPE utilization in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To address the complexities surrounding PPE for patients with unknown COVID-19 status.
• To explore the specific concerns of surgeons regarding potential transmission risks to their families.

Main Methods:

• Review of emerging evidence and guidelines on infection control for SARS-CoV-2.
• Analysis of factors influencing PPE decision-making, including testing accuracy and resource management.
• Discussion of the psychological impact on healthcare professionals, particularly surgeons.

Main Results:

• Routine infection control measures combined with airborne precautions are essential for COVID-19 patients.
• PPE strategies for patients with unknown COVID-19 status require careful consideration of multiple variables.
• Surgeons express significant concerns about nosocomial transmission to their households.

Conclusions:

• Adaptable and evidence-informed PPE strategies are crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Balancing patient/provider safety, testing capabilities, and resource stewardship is paramount.
• Addressing the emotional and practical concerns of healthcare workers is vital for sustained pandemic response.