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Nilasaroya A, Kop AM, Collier RC, Kennedy B, Kelsey LJ, Pollard F, Ha JF, Morrison DA. Establishing local manufacture of PPE for healthcare workers in the time of a global pandemic. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13349. [PMID: 36816240 PMCID: PMC9922675 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A face shield is a secondary personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers (HCW). Worn with the appropriate face masks/respirators, it provides short term barrier protection against potentially infectious droplet particles. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a spike in demand for PPE, leading to a shortage and risking the safety of HCW. Transport restrictions further challenged the existing PPE supply chain which has been reliant on overseas-based manufacturers. Despite the urgency in demand, PPE must be properly tested for functionality and quality. We describe the establishment of local face shields manufacture in Western Australia to ensure adequate PPE for HCW. Ten thousand face shields for general use (standard) and for ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist use were produced. Materials and design considerations are described, and the face shields were vigorously tested to the relevant Standards to ensure their effectiveness as a protective barrier, including splash and impact resistance. Comparative testing with traditional and other novel face shields was also undertaken. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) licence was obtained to manufacture and supply the face shields as a Class I medical device. The swiftness of process is a credit to collaboration from industry, academia and healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Nilasaroya
- Centre for Implant Technology and Retrievals Analysis (CITRA), Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
| | - Alan Matthew Kop
- Centre for Implant Technology and Retrievals Analysis (CITRA), Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
| | - Ryan Christopher Collier
- Centre for Implant Technology and Retrievals Analysis (CITRA), Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
| | - Brendan Kennedy
- BRITElab, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia,Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Australia
| | - Lachlan James Kelsey
- Vascular Engineering Laboratory, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia,Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Faz Pollard
- Adarsh Australia, 6 Crocker Drive, Malaga, Western Australia, 6090, Australia
| | - Jennifer Fong Ha
- Department of Paediatrics Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Perth Children's Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia,Murdoch ENT, Wexford Medical Centre, Suite 17-18, Level 1, 3 Barry Marshall Parade, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia,Department of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - David Anthony Morrison
- Centre for Implant Technology and Retrievals Analysis (CITRA), Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia,Corresponding author.
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Simulating the Environmental Spread of SARS-CoV-2 via Cough and the Effect of Personal Mitigations. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10112241. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A cough is known to transmit an aerosol cloud up to 2 m. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), other UK government agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people to cough into their elbows. It was thought that this would reduce viral spread and protect the public. However, there is limited peer reviewed evidence to support this. Objectives: To determine if cough related interventions reduce environmental contamination, protecting members of the public from infection. Methods: Scientists and engineers at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) laboratory used a human cough simulator that provided a standardised cough challenge using a solution of simulated saliva and a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus; Phi6. Pseudomonas syringae settle plates were used to detect viable Phi6 virus following a simulated cough into a 4 × 4 m test chamber. The unimpeded pattern of contamination was compared to that when a hand or elbow was placed over the mouth during the cough. High speed back-lit video was also taken to visualise the aerosol dispersion. Results and Discussion: Viable virus spread up to 2 m from the origin of the cough outwards in a cloud. Recommended interventions, such as putting a hand or elbow in front of the mouth changed the pattern of cough aerosol dispersion. A hand deflected the cough to the side, protecting those in front from exposure, however it did not prevent environmental contamination. It also allowed for viral transfer from the hand to surfaces such as door handles. A balled fist in front of the mouth did not deflect the cough. Putting an elbow in front of the mouth deflected the aerosol cloud to above and below the elbow, but would not have protected any individuals standing in front. However, if the person coughed into a sleeved elbow more of the aerosol seemed to be absorbed. Coughing into a bare elbow still allowed for transfer to the environment if people touched the inside of their elbow soon after coughing. Conclusions: Interventions can change the environmental contamination pattern resulting from a human cough but may not reduce it greatly.
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