Performance of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs) Used by Home Attending Health-Care Workers (Pilot Study – Design and Methods)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Elmashae Y ; Grinshpun SA
• Description:
  Background: Home-attending health-care workers are often exposed to various airborne hazards during care activities. This exposure can put them at a health risk. They often enter the homes environments unprotected or at best use surgical masks or NIOSH-certified N95 facepiece filtering respirators (FFRs). Using the personal respiratory protection equipment may mitigate the problem; however, there is no data that would allow assessing whether existing FFRs can provide an adequate protection to health-care workers during home visits. Generally, workplace protection factor (WPF) is used to determine the protection provided by an FFR to a worker. The WPF is determined as a ratio of the concentration outside of the respirator (Cout) to the concentration inside the respirator while worn at a workplace (Cin). Purpose: This study is aimed at evaluating the protection offered by N95-certified FFRs to health-care workers exposed to aerosols while providing care in patients' homes. This study is expected to generate aerosol exposure and respiratory protection data that has not been collected before. Methods: In this pilot study, we will determine the WPF for two types N95 FFRs that are used by health-care workers during home visits. Additionally, the aerosol particle concentration and size distribution in homes attended by health-care workers will be measured. A total of 5 home-attending health-care workers serving in the Cincinnati area will be recruited to participate in approximately 20 home visits. First, each subject who passed the OSHA respirator medical clearance questionnaire and OSHA fit test will be asked to wear the tested FFRs while providing health care to patients. Second, the Cout and the Cin of the tested N95 FFRs worn by the participants will be measured using a P-Trak condensation particle counter and NanoCheck Aerosol Spectrometer operating in parallel. The data sets will be used to characterize the aerosols in the tested home environments and calculate the WPF. The outcomes of this pilot study are expected to lead to establishing a full-scope research program and be the foundation for the development of new effective respiratory protection strategies for health-care workers attending patients in their homes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Health Personnel Home Care Services Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Aerosol Particles Health Care Personnel Home Health Care N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Particle Counters Personal Protective Equipment PPE Respirators Surgical Masks Work Environment
• Publisher:
  University of Cincinnati
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052472
• Citation:
  16th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium, University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center, October 8-9, 2015, Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, 2015 Oct; :1-2
• Email:
  elmashys@mail.uc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  16th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium, University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center, October 8-9, 2015, Cincinnati, Ohio
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:393b4f63b834a3f9f4964082268cb930bace4ecc1f6f801380c6147482265b1c75069d8e3b14e1839395d61870dbc63b01c2bd6d1e1554b14e785840c8cd55eb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211995/cdc_211995_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 167.73 KB ]