Compared with healthcare workers using adequate PPE, frontline healthcare workers reporting the reuse of PPE had a 46% increased risk of reporting a positive COVID-19 test, with inadequate PPE associated with a comparable 31% increase

Healthcare workers with reused or inadequate PPE are at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19

- Risk of COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers and the general community: a prospective cohort study


MedRxiv papers for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)


- Protecting medical staff from skin injury/disease caused by personal protective equipment during epidemic period of COVID‐19: experience from China

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (JEADV) papers for PPE


- Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks

WHO Articles about the Use of Face Masks

- medRxiv
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (JEADV)
- WHO

Syracuse University

- Masks/respirators (N95, etc)
- long-sleeved gowns
- goggles 
- disposable round caps
- latex gloves 
- show covers
-ventilators

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

World Health Organization. (2020). Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide. 2020.
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide

Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide

In low-contagion areas, healthcare workers used surgical masks, latex gowns, gloves, and disposable round caps. In high-contagion areas, healthcare workers used N95 masks, long-sleeved gowns, goggles, disposable round caps, latex gloves, and show covers.

PPE in the Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China

References for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by Journal

Self-contamination during repeated donning and doffing or breakdown of materials due to extended wear are the greatest risks of reusing PPE.

Reuse of PPE presents higher risk for contracting COVID-19

Medical staff who must constantly use skin disinfectants and personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic develop skin injury and disease that lowers their performance and quality of life. Experts from The Chinese Society of Dermatology have recommended measures to prevent and treat these conditions.


PPE skin injury/disease prevention and treatment 

With the demand for protective personal equipment constantly increasing due to COVID-19, there are compromises being made, aiming to reduce negative ramifications.
- Healthcare workers required to personally acquired their own PPE.  Often sacrifices quality of protection and increases risk of contagion.
-  Reusing of PPE presents higher risk for contracting COVID-19.  Quality degrades over time and reduces effectiveness of protection.

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