Last week, advisors to President Obama warned that hospitals and doctors offices will be overwhelmed with H1N1 patients this flu season, and now a new federal report urges all healthcare workers to wear fitted respirators when treating them.
The report, issued Thursday by the Institutes of Medicine, said the newness of H1N1 makes it an urgent concern. Healthcare workers treating H1N1 patients should wear respiratory protection, gloves, gowns, eye protection and other equipment.
IOM researchers said studies on the flu show the virus transmits through the air. N95 respirators are documented to filter out 95 to 99 percent of relevant particles and have maximum effectiveness when properly fitted to the face of users. If masks aren't fitted properly to each worker, they are unlikely to be effective protection, researchers said.
IOM recommended that employers ensure that the use and fit testing of N95 respirators be conducted in accordance with OSHA regulations, and healthcare workers should use the equipment as required by regulations and employer policies.
Researchers at IOM said they were not charged with addressing the economic factors involved with providing respirators to every health worker.
"It is important to note that controversy exists regarding clinical guideline decision making as many factors besides efficacy may affect policy decisions for personal protection guidance including economics, equipment supplies, vaccine availability, immunization status, extent of worker compliance, and logistical considerations in the implementation of such guidance," they added.
The IOM also said it endorses recommendations released earlier by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing the spread of H1N1.
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