How safe is PAPR

[bananas85]

I work in a non academic institution in a remote state. We get our own PAPR hoods, but share the machine and the hose connected to it. The machine and hose, are always lying outside on tables not properly put back. The hose is sometimes touching the floor.

How safe, is it? From my experience working in microbiology in Undergrad even the slightest contamination would destroy cell lines in vitro. Is there a proper way to clean the PAPR to make sure the risks of covid exposures are zero. How do you guys clean the PAPR hood, specially the inside of the hood? When I wear a half face hood, and put it back into my bag at the end of the day, the outside (contaminated) surface touches the inside (non contaminated surface).

This sounds like borderline paranoia, but Covid is exploding, and I want to know your guys PPE routine to decrease the risk.

Appreciate it.

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[wamcp]

I work in a non academic institution in a remote state. We get our own PAPR hoods, but share the machine and the hose connected to it. The machine and hose, are always lying outside on tables not properly put back. The hose is sometimes touching the floor.

How safe, is it? From my experience working in microbiology in Undergrad even the slightest contamination would destroy cell lines in vitro. Is there a proper way to clean the PAPR to make sure the risks of covid exposures are zero. How do you guys clean the PAPR hood, specially the inside of the hood? When I wear a half face hood, and put it back into my bag at the end of the day, the outside (contaminated) surface touches the inside (non contaminated surface).

This sounds like borderline paranoia, but Covid is exploding, and I want to know your guys PPE routine to decrease the risk.

Appreciate it.

This is literal paranoia

Wear a simple surgical mask if pt is not getting nebs, on HF NC, intubated or on NIPPV or whatever thing that aerosolizes. Nurses do it, I do it too, and I ain't got covid
Wear a N95 in all other situations, or just wear the N95 all the time to cure your anxiety

I'm assuming you don't have some facial deformity that prevents you from wearing a N95?

 

[rokshana]

This is literal paranoia

Wear a simple surgical mask if pt is not getting nebs, on HF NC, intubated or on NIPPV or whatever thing that aerosolizes. Nurses do it, I do it too, and I ain't got covid
Wear a N95 in all other situations, or just wear the N95 all the time to cure your anxiety

I'm assuming you don't have some facial deformity that prevents you from wearing a N95?

there is no problem being more protective than less....you do t know if the person doesn’t fit test...I do t and I wear a papr when going into a covid +/pui room.
What skin is it off your nose of someone is concerned about their level of ppe?

my question is why aren’t people putting the papr back into its carrying case? Quit being so sloppy ...it takes 5 minutes to clean and put away the papr unit.

 

[bananas85]

Fair enough. I would say 60% of my patients, are on HF NC.
Yeh I thought about just using the N 95, as PAPR takes a bit of time to put on and off, and not the most comfortable.


Rokshana, how are you seeing COVID patients. Arent you an endocrinologist. Most of the thing you need can be done over phone or ipad?

I actually have my own PAPR unit. I will start carrying it to work to avoid cross contamination, from people just leaving it on the table haphazardly.

 

[bananas85]

Do you clean the Inside of the PAPR head gear? In this video they only clean the outside

 

[rokshana]

Fair enough. I would say 60% of my patients, are on HF NC.
Yeh I thought about just using the N 95, as PAPR takes a bit of time to put on and off, and not the most comfortable.


Rokshana, how are you seeing COVID patients. Arent you an endocrinologist. Most of the thing you need can be done over phone or ipad?

I actually have my own PAPR unit. I will start carrying it to work to avoid cross contamination, from people just leaving it on the table haphazardly.

i worked COVID surge as a hospitalist April -June up in Boston (not a lot of Endocrine assignments since March.

But there are times that I do need to touch an Endocrine pt (for example, new thyrotoxicosis ...have to feel thyroid at least, but other PE does need to be done) and guess what? I'm wearing my PAPR...actually better since they can see my face!

I wear at minimum an N95...because you never know...had a pt that was in the hospital for at least 2 weeks for uncontrolled Graves and tested COVID (-) on admission...ended up transferring pt to hospital that had ENT since they needed total thyroidectomy and when they tested her pre op...COVID +!!!! I was in the room with them and their family for over 30 mins 2 days before to discuss the transfer and need for surgery. Even then, occupational health contacted me me after they were positive. Better safe than sorry.

 

[rokshana]

Do you clean the Inside of the PAPR head gear? In this video they only clean the outside

i bought the "disposable" pair hoods (pack of 5 for $150) and am the only one using it, so don't worry so much about cleaning the inside of my hood.

Good question about the tubing...i would clean the outside and the pack, but didn't do anything about the inside of the tube...

 

[wamcp]

i worked COVID surge as a hospitalist April -June up in Boston (not a lot of Endocrine assignments since March.

But there are times that I do need to touch an Endocrine pt (for example, new thyrotoxicosis ...have to feel thyroid at least, but other PE does need to be done) and guess what? I'm wearing my PAPR...actually better since they can see my face!

I wear at minimum an N95...because you never know...had a pt that was in the hospital for at least 2 weeks for uncontrolled Graves and tested COVID (-) on admission...ended up transferring pt to hospital that had ENT since they needed total thyroidectomy and when they tested her pre op...COVID +!!!! I was in the room with them and their family for over 30 mins 2 days before to discuss the transfer and need for surgery. Even then, occupational health contacted me me after they were positive. Better safe than sorry.

I agree better safe than sorry - in the sense of a risk of missing work than catching covid. One hospital here has a policy that if you had close covid contact without ppe you cannot work for ten days. If you always have a n95 no one can claim that.