Table.
Three-Tiered System for Determining Requirements for PPEa
| Risk level | Definition | PPE requirement | Procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Clear risk of aerosol generation | Respirator, eye protection, gown, gloves | Intubation Bronchoscopy |
| Medium | Possible, but not substantial, risk of aerosol generation | For suspected COVID-19: respirator, eye protection, gown, gloves For other procedures: standard precautions for the procedureb |
BiPAP/CPAP with a viral filter in place Nasogastric tube placement |
| Low | Little risk of aerosol generation | For suspected COVID-19: mask, eye protection, gown, gloves For other procedures: standard precautions for the procedureb |
Nasopharyngeal swab collection Physiological coughing |
a
BiPAP = bilevel positive airway pressure; COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019; CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure; PPE = personal protective equipment.
b
Standard precautions for procedures and patient care in which COVID-19 is not suspected and the risk of aerosol generation is not high are masks for the patient and health care worker or mask plus eye protection for the health care worker in any situation in which the patient cannot reliably be masked.