Table 1.
The Recommended Use of PPE for Different Activities at Various Settings Managing Suspected/Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
| Setting | Activity | Recommended PPE |
| Triage | Screening and initially examining patients | Surgical mask |
| Regular AAMI level-II gown | ||
| Goggles or full-face shields | ||
| Gloves | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after examining each patient | ||
| ED consultation rooms | Examination of patient; negative COVID-19 = no signs of respiratory illness | Surgical mask |
| Gloves | ||
| Pay attention of environmental contamination (room items, instruments, etc) | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after examining each patient | ||
| ED consultation rooms | Examination of patient; suspected/confirmed COVID-19 or patient with fever or signs of respiratory illness | Fitted, NIOSH-certified N-95 mask (if available) or surgical mask (consider double/multiple mask technique and ensure tight-fitting) |
| Regular AAMI level-II gown | ||
| Goggles or full-face shields | ||
| Gloves (double gloves should be considered in trauma level I cases) | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after examining each patient | ||
| Procedure rooms | Providing noninvasive medical care for suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patients. | Fitted, NIOSH-certified N-95 mask (if available) or surgical mask (consider double mask technique and ensure tight-fitting) |
| Regular AAMI level-II gown | ||
| Eye protection: Goggles or full-face shields (if available) | ||
| Gloves | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after examining each patient and donning/doffing PPE | ||
| Induction room | The senior anesthesiologist is performing respiratory aerosol-generating procedures for suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patient | PAPR (if available) or, |
| Fitted, NIOSH-certified N-95 mask, with | ||
| Eye protection; goggles (covered sides of eyes) or full-face shields | ||
| Disposable AAMI level-III surgical gown or coveralls | ||
| Double high-cuffed surgical gloves [alternately, vertical strips of tape can keep gloves secured to the gown] | ||
| Shoes worn should be fluid-resistant and easily to be decontaminated [disposable shoe covers might increase the risk of contamination] | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after donning/doffing PPE | ||
| A shower after respiratory aerosol-generating procedures is very prudent | ||
| Operating room | Providing emergent surgical treatment for suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patient | PAPR is preferred for long operations (if available) or, |
| Fitted, NIOSH-certified N-95 mask, with | ||
| Eye protection; goggles (covered sides of eyes) or full-face shields | ||
| Disposable AAMI level-III surgical gown or coveralls | ||
| Double high-cuffed surgical gloves [alternately, vertical strips of tape can keep gloves secured to the gown] | ||
| Shoes worn should be fluid-resistant and easily to be decontaminated [disposable shoe covers might increase risk of contamination] | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after donning/doffing PPE | ||
| Performing aerosolized blood-generating procedures for suspected/confirmed COVID-19 patient | PAPR is preferred for long operations (if available) or, | |
| Fitted, NIOSH-certified n-95 mask, with | ||
| Eye protection; goggles (covered sides of eyes) or full-face shields | ||
| Surgical hood with ties (head and neck covering) | ||
| Disposable AAMI level-III surgical gown or coveralls | ||
| Double high-cuffed surgical gloves [alternately, vertical strips of tape can keep gloves secured to the gown] | ||
| Shoes worn should be fluid-resistant and easily to be decontaminated [disposable shoe covers might increase risk of contamination] | ||
| Hand hygiene before and after donning/doffing PPE | ||
| A shower after an aerosolized- blood-generating procedure is very prudent | ||
| Recovery room | PPE doffing | Special attention is warranted to avoid self-contamination during PPE doffing |
AAMI = Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, PAPR = powered air-purifying respirator, PPE = personal protective equipment