Table 1.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines developed at the beginning of the pandemic for management of viral pneumonia cases (confirmed and suspected) of unknown cause.
| No. | Contact points | PPE required for staff* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triaging/registration of patient | |
|
| ||
| 1.1 | Staff at area receiving patient | Surgical mask |
|
| ||
| 2 | Escorting of patient to designated isolation room | |
|
| ||
| 2.1 | Staff escorting patient to designated isolation room or area upon knowledge of patient’s declaration of relevant symptoms and travel history | N95 mask + gown + gloves |
|
| ||
| 3 | Transportation of patient to SGH DEM or other areas for assessment (prior to decision to admit patient) | |
|
| ||
| 3.1 | All staff involved in patient transfer, including but not limited to: | |
|
| ||
| (i) Security staff controlling traffic/lift | N95 mask + gown + gloves | |
|
| ||
| (ii) Staff accompanying/transferring patient | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves | |
|
| ||
| (iii) Ambulance driver | N95 mask | |
|
| ||
| 4 | Transportation of patient to SGH Ward 68 for admission | |
|
| ||
| 4.1 | Security staff controlling traffic/lift | N95 mask + gown + gloves |
|
| ||
| 4.2 | Staff accompanying/transferring patient | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves |
|
| ||
| 5 | Performing patient examination/providing patient care | |
|
| ||
| 5.1 | Staff attending to suspect or confirmed case (for non-aerosol-generating procedures) | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves |
|
| ||
| 5.2 | Staff attending to suspect or confirmed case (for aerosol-generating procedures) | Face shield + N95 mask (PAPR only for trained staff) + gown + gloves |
|
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| 5.3 | Staff attending to suspect or confirmed case for throat swab procedures | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves |
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| 6 | Transportation of specimen to laboratory | |
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| 6.1 | Porter | PPE not required |
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| 7 | Laboratory processing | |
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| 7.1 | Laboratory staff processing specimen | Biosafety cabinet + N95 mask + gown + gloves |
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| 8 | Environmental services | |
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| 8.1 | Environmental services staff cleaning the room used by suspect or confirmed case, including but not limited to: | (Activate spill management protocol if there is any spillage) |
|
| ||
| (i) Treatment/ward room | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves | |
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| (ii) Lift used for transfer | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves | |
|
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| (iii) Ambulance used for transfer | Face shield + N95 mask + gown + gloves | |
|
| ||
| 9 | Transportation to mortuary | |
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| ||
| 9.1 | Mortuary staff transferring deceased patient (suspect or confirmed case) to mortuary cart (with entry to patient’s room) | N95 mask + gown + gloves |
All areas are to ensure that the necessary PPE are readily available to staff when required. *Practise standard precautions in all situations, e.g. staff to wear face shield and gowns when splash or exposure to body fluids is anticipated. DEM: Department of Emergency Medicine, PAPR: powered air-purifying respirator, SGH: Singapore General Hospital