InstructionsOverview/Description: My specialization is MSN-APRN in Family Nurse Practitioner, Make sure the entire project is centered in one topic only. The final project for NSG6101 consists of the
Running Head: WEEK 4 MID-WEEK ASSIGNMENT 0
Week 4 Mid-Week Assignment
Yulak Landa
Dr. Sandra Allen
South University
April 11, 2020
PICOT Question
With the current COVID-19 pandemic in the world, most victims admitted under the intensive care unit, how does using a respiratory face mask compare with using standard face masks under the high risk of exposure in a healthcare setting since the outbreak?
Face Mask and Respiratory Mask
A standard mask is used to prevent the wearer from droplets and splashes falling into his nose, respiratory tract, and his mouth. On the other hand, a respiratory mask (N95/ FFP) is designed to prevent the user from breathing in the small airborne particles.
According to studies by WHO and Public Health of England, in the determination of which mask to wear, there is a need to assess the risk of contagion an encounter presents, to determine which equipment one to use. In the case of aerosol-generating procedures, AGPs, that produce small airborne particles, a respiratory mask would be more efficient than the standard mask. Covid 19 is suspected of falling under this category, and an N95 respirator would be efficient due to its specialized air filter capabilities. Anyone caring for the patients or coming into contact is encouraged to wear the respiratory mask. However, the research found it not necessary for all people to wear respiratory masks, and standard masks were also effective in non-AGPs and non-close contacts persons. However, it warned that the application of masks as a stand-alone measure is not adequate as it should complement other measures (McDonald, 2020).
Another research by Chinese Cochrane Centre on the effectiveness of Standard and respiratory facemasks in the prevention of viruses including pandemic strains found that the was no significant differences between the efficiency of respiratory masks and the efficiency of standard mask in the prevention of virus-related infections. It only saw the difference manifesting in bacterial infections (Wu, Huang, Zhang, He, & Ming, 2020).
center for disease prevention and control, CDC, gave recent guidance on the mask to use. It recommended that the public wears a face cover, whether homemade or professionally made. It warned the masses from using standard masks or respiratory masks as they should be reserved for healthcare practitioners and front line personnel due to their short supply. The country is under a severe shortage of PPEs making some practitioners use scarves and bandanas as masks. The CDC, however, said that these masks should be worn when no other options are on the table. Any mask irrespective of the quality would provide a physical barrier between them and the user's nose and mouth. However, it is not precise whether covid 19 is spread via droplets or aerosols. The barrier is good than having any. In the case of strong supply, a standard or a respiratory mask would be recommendable (Pathak, 2020).
Personal protective equipments
According to ILO, the work of the PPEs is to motivate healthcare givers to work responsibly and safely. In guidance given by WHO, for staff not coming into direct contact with a suspected patient, a standard precaution involving hand washing and face mask is needed while for the suspected or confirmed cases with contacts and no AGPs needs a standard mask, gloves, goggles, and gown. In the case of confirmed cases with AGP respiratory mask is preferred in addition to other gears. CDC also requires the same gear. The two bodies also published reports that the prevailing shortages of PPEs are making more patients die or remain unserved due to the medical staff's fear of infection. This situation has been observed in New Yolk among other states. UNICEF did the same pronouncement. However, this researches did not include shoe covers as part of PPEs (Cebm, 2020).
Hygiene
Both CDC, WHO, and other studies above have stretched that a mask put on without additional advised protection and hygiene measures downplays the whole idea of putting on a mask. WHO has all the time recommended regular washing of hands with soap and running water or disinfecting them using a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Washing should be done after touching surfaces like in markets and buses, using a toilet, bathroom, touching animals, before preparing food, emoving a mask, among other areas. It is also essential to avoid touching surfaces with bare hands and thus recommendable to put on disposable gloves. The studies also recommend that disposable tissues should be used to clean the mouth, anal, nose, and eye and then properly cast out. This hygiene measures are poised t improve the effectiveness of the mask (Whitworth, 2020).
References
Cebm. (2020, April 7). What is the evidence that COVID-19 personal protective equipment should include shoe covers? Retrieved from https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/what-is-the-evidence-that-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-should-include-shoe-covers/
McDonald, J. (2020, April 6). COVID-19 Face Mask Advice, Explained. Retrieved from https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/covid-19-face-mask-advice-explained/
Pathak, N. (2020, March 29). Can wearing a mask protect you from coronavirus? Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/924531
Whitworth, J. (2020). COVID-19: A fast-evolving pandemic. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 114(4), 241-248. doi:10.1093/trstmh/traa025
Wu, H., Huang, J., Zhang, C. J., He, Z., & Ming, W. (2020). Facemask shortage and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak: Reflection on public health measures. doi:10.1101/2020.02.11.20020735
