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Airborne Precautions and Personal Protective Equipment: The Powered Air-Purifying Respirator-Only Approach

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Infection Prevention

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Abstract

Airborne isolation of patients and use of respirators are a foundational strategy to prevent transmission of pathogens like tuberculosis and novel respiratory viruses via airborne route in healthcare settings. Healthcare personnel respiratory protection programs utilize respirators, which may or may not require fit testing for each individual. This chapter reviews the different types of respirators, which include the more common N95 respirator masks and the somewhat less commonly used powered air-purifying respirators, and the levels of protection offered by each type. The chapter also reviews considerations and controversies regarding use of N95 respirators and PAPRs and situations when a PAPR-only approach might work. In each healthcare facility, the epidemiology and risk assessment of the facility, available evidence in published literature, and certain regulatory standards must inform the clinical policies, protocols, and procedures. Key unanswered questions and further areas for research are outlined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quality and Safety, Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Pranavi V. Sreeramoju

  2. Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio and South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Jose Cadena

Authors
  1. Pranavi V. Sreeramoju
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  2. Jose Cadena
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pranavi V. Sreeramoju .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. VCUHS Epidemiology and Infection Control, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Gonzalo Bearman

  2. Baltimore VA Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Daniel J. Morgan

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Rekha K. Murthy

  4. Infection Prevention and Control Department, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Susy Hota

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Sreeramoju, P.V., Cadena, J. (2022). Airborne Precautions and Personal Protective Equipment: The Powered Air-Purifying Respirator-Only Approach. In: Bearman, G., Morgan, D.J., K. Murthy, R., Hota, S. (eds) Infection Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98427-4_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98427-4_29

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-98426-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-98427-4

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