Ebola Care and Lack of Consensus on Personal Protective Respiratory Equipment

• Published in: Workplace health & safety Vol. 64; no. 2; p. 48
• Main Authors: Hanoa, R O, Moen, B E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Africa, Western; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Ebolavirus - pathogenicity; Health Personnel; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - prevention & control; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - transmission; Humans; Infection Control - methods; Infection Control - standards; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional - prevention & control; Masks - standards; Occupational Health - standards; Protective Clothing - standards; Respiratory Protective Devices - standards; respiratory protective equipment; Ebola virus diseases; health care workers; personal protective equipment; occupational safety
• ISSN: 2165-0969
• DOI: 10.1177/2165079915608405

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa presents a considerable occupational risk to the health personnel involved. The principal mode of virus transmission to health care personnel is through direct contact with the patient, although transmission by aerosols through the air may also occur. Many safety protocols have been suggested relating to personal protection and particularly respiratory protection. It is generally agreed that all health care workers should have easy access to personal protective equipment. However, the degree of respiratory safety escalates from a mask, to an adequate respirator, and finally to a whole body suit with integrated helmet and positive air pressure. Recent publications demonstrate a lack of consensus on the degree of safety necessary. The step from "safe enough" to being "absolutely safe" seems, in most countries, insurmountable because of costs and logistics.