PAPRs, TB fit-testing, and your take
Now that OSHA can enforce annual fit-testing provisions for TB respirators, there’s been a lot of talk about increased use of PAPRs, which don’t require fit-testing because of their design.
But here’s one disadvantage of PAPRs: From a sensitivity to patients standpoint, I think in an emergency, "hooding up" to deal with patients might fly for a bit, but I think ultimately the "comfort level" for patients in isolation will be strained if there's too much care in the hood.
Imagine if you’re a patient and every time the nurses come in, they have full hoods on—it’s not a cozy image.
Have you considered a more pervasive use of PAPRs to ensure appropriate levels of protection?
But in a PAPR, the patient can see your mouth
mouth. Something a regular mask
covers. With our older population,
seeing a person talking is important for
safety.