Zhang M(M, Hackett L, Smith J, Pritchard Z, Casey M, Low C, Buntine P. Striving to be the fittest: quantitative P2/N95 respirator fit test results among hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY : ASHE 2023;
3:e233. [PMID:
38156215 PMCID:
PMC10753470 DOI:
10.1017/ash.2023.503]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Objective
To provide fit rates for specific P2/N95 respirators and compare these results by age, sex, clean-shaven status, and fit tester experience.
Design
Exploratory audit involving secondary analysis of existing quantitative fit testing data.
Setting
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare services across Australia implemented respiratory protection protocols. This study details healthcare workers' (HCWs) fit testing results from a large Victorian public health service.
Participants
Fit-tested employees of a large tertiary public health network.
Methods
Fit rates for ten individual P2/N95 respirators were calculated, and the effect of age, sex, clean-shaven status, and fit tester experience was examined via logistic regression.
Results
4593 employees were included, with 97.98% successfully fitting at least one respirator. Males were found to have significantly increased odds of achieving fit success compared to females (OR 11.61 95%CI 1.60-84.10). Fit rates dropped by 4% with each 1-year age increase (OR 0.96 95%CI 0.94-0.98). Clean-shaven individuals were also more likely to achieve a fit compared to non-clean-shaved individuals (OR 79.23 95%CI 10.21-614.62). More experienced fit testers also yielded significantly higher fit rates (OR 3.95, 95%CI 2.34-6.67).
Conclusions
98% of staff achieved a successful fitting of at least one respirator, with three-panel flat fold models (Industree Trident, 3M Aura 9320A+, and 3M Aura 1870+) performing the most consistently. An individual's ability to achieve a successful fit was associated with; male sex, younger age, clean-shaven status, and fit tester experience.
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