Complications of personal protective equipment use during the COVID-19 pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI22051Keywords:
COVID-19, personal protective equipment, adverse effectAbstract
Background: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in 2020. Personal protective equipment (PPE) emerged as an effective measure to prevent and control transmission, resulting in several complications for health professionals.
Objectives: To identify complications related to PPE use.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 118 professionals from a local health unit who received an email invitation from the department manager to answer an online questionnaire. It received a favorable opinion from an Ethics Committee.
Results: Most complications were associated with FPP2 respirators (96.6%), gowns (79.6%), and coveralls (89.3%), namely hyperhidrosis from wearing coveralls (95.3%), aprons (93.1%), and gowns (92.0%), falls from using shoe covers (94.6%), xeroderma from wearing gloves (65.2%), and oral communication difficulties due to mask use.
Conclusion: The most frequent complications were hyperhidrosis, falls, and xeroderma. Oral and skin hydration is recommended. PPE should be worn for the minimum time possible.
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References
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