Volume 15, Number 6—June 2009
Peer Reviewed Report Available Online Only
Stockpiling Supplies for the Next Influenza Pandemic
Lewis J. Radonovich
, Paul D. Magalian, Mary Kay Hollingsworth, and Gio Baracco
, Paul D. Magalian, Mary Kay Hollingsworth, and Gio Baracco
Table 3
Personal protective equipment needs by staff category during a 1918-like influenza pandemic
| Staff with no or infrequent patient exposure and/or direct contact (e.g., fiscal personnel) |
|---|
| 1 disposable N95 respirator per exposure or contact |
| 1 disposable gown per contact |
| 1 pair of disposable gloves per contact |
| Staff with prolonged periods of exposure and/or direct patient contact (e.g., nurses, physicians) |
| 1 reusable* N95 respirator per outbreak |
| 1 pair of goggles per outbreak |
| 1 pair of disposable gloves per contact |
| 1 disposable gown per contact |
| 2 disposable respirator cartridges per month |
| Staff with prolonged periods of exposure but no or infrequent direct contact with patients (e.g., emergency department clerk) |
| 1 reusable† N95 respirator per outbreak |
| 1 pair of goggles per outbreak |
| 1 disposable gown per shift |
| 1 pair of disposable gloves per contact |
| 2 disposable respirator cartridges per month |
*Recent reports (Institute of Medicine and Office of Health Safety [14]) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration [6]) indicate that there is a strong likelihood of disposable respirator shortages during an influenza pandemic. Reusable respirators were selected as the primary component of respiratory protection for healthcare workers to avoid the possibility of exhausting local supplies of disposable respirators.
†Disposable N95 respirators may need to be used during early stages to enable time for fit-testing and issuing of reusable masks to pertinent staff.
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