- N95: best-known respirator against the virus in the form of a mask
-  Surgical masks: used by healthcare professionals in the absence of N95 masks
- Surgical Masks with FPR: surgical masks fitted with 9-10 air-conditioning filters
- Pneumask: Stanford designed face-mask with a snorkel-like design
- PAPR Mask:  powered air-purifying respirator attached to surgical masks


Face Masks

- Prusa Face Shield: The Prusa Printer face shield can protect clinical personnel when other FDA-approved face shields aren't present
- GA Tech Face Shield: The Georgia Tech 3D-printed rigid frame with a disposable face shield design
- MIT Face Shield: MIT and Georgia Tech produced this origami disposable face shield

Face  Shields

- Hygiene Shield + Glassafe: Transparent acrylic barrier for public settings where cross-contamination is common, have been implemented into retail stores
- Sanitizer Station: an example is the Umdash Hygeine Station to be utilized by the public in normal settings

Environmental Precautions

Gloves are used to protect personnel from being exposed to pathogens, said gloves need to be disposed and replaced in order to prevent the spread of microorganisms. However, not all gloves block the penetration of the virus and COVID-19 droplets.

Gloves

- Face Masks
- Face Shields
-Environmental Precautions
- Gloves

University of California, Santa Cruz

According to the CDC, personal protective equipment (PPE) is used every day by healthcare personnel (HCP) to protect themselves, patients, and others when providing care. PPE helps protect HCP from many hazards encountered in healthcare facilities. However, the sudden surge in cases has lead to a spike in the demand for PPEs, leading to shortages all around the world.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19

Allam, M., Cai, S., Ganesh, S., Venkatesan, M., Doodhwala, S., Song, Z., . . . Coskun, A. F. (2020). COVID-19 Diagnostics, Tools, and Prevention. Diagnostics, 10(6), 409. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10060409

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/10/6/409

COVID-19 Diagnostics, Tools, and Prevention

Nanomaterials can be used to increase the performance and safety of PPE, such as air filters and masks. They may be used to not only capture aerosol droplets but also inactivate the virus upon contact with the surfaces of PPE. 

Opportunities for nanotechnology-based solutions to increase the efficiency and safety of air filter and mask devices include (i) improving particle capture and retention characteristics, particularly, in the 300 nm diameter size range; (ii) reducing the effects of exhaled humid air on particle redistribution; (iii) rapid inactivation of membrane-bound microbes including enveloped viruses upon capture; and (iv) thin, high-efficiency filtration media for personal masks that are able to be reused repeatedly without loss of efficiency (e.g., novel electrospun nanofibers). 


Nanomaterials for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Management by Country

The normal PPE supply chain process is usually the sourcing teams choosing 2-3 large-scale distributors. The supplies from the distributors are delivered weekly. The distributors usually purchase directly from the manufacturer or third parties. In the U.S., PPE production is limited with more than 70% of PPE produced in China. Due to the spike of demand, distributors cannot acquire PPE to meet the demands. 
- Why aren't distributors purchasing more PPE?
- The Department of Health and Human Services' Strategic National Stockplie
- Negative consequences of PPE shortage
- What should be done?

PPE Supply Chains 

Types of PPE

In the absence of certain effective controls, PPE has limited benefit. Such controls include:
- Administrative controls
- Environmental and engineering controls

Management of Personal Protective Equipment


- Minimize the need for PPE in health care settings
- Ensure rational and appropriate use of PPE
- Coordinate PPE supply chain management mechanisms.


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