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Isolation Requirements and Personal Protective Equipment in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Erica Rabold1, Helene Rovnan, Tiffany DuMont
1Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Drs Rabold and DuMont); and Internal Medicine Residency, Medicine Institute, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Rovnan).
Abstract:
Isolation requirements and subsequent need for personal protective equipment (PPE) are among the many challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation of COVID-19-positive patients and the use of appropriate PPE by health care professionals are important parts of infection prevention, not only in the hospital setting but also in preventing community spread of the disease. This article addresses isolation requirements, appropriate PPE use, and strategies to overcome challenges such as PPE shortage.
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