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Personal Protective Equipment

Quick Index

Policies and standards related to PPE Conservation, Decontamination of N95 Facemasks and Prevention and Management of Skin Damage related to PPE use that Infection Prevention and Control professionals may use to support their own documentation and best practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Prior to any patient interaction, all healthcare workers (HCWs) have a responsibility to assess the infectious risk posed to themselves and to other patients, visitors, and HCWs. This risk assessment is based on professional judgment about the clinical situation and up-to-date information on how the specific healthcare organization has designed and implemented engineering and administrative controls, along with the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

In response to the emergence of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron variant) recommendations for infection prevention and control measures for direct care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in healthcare settings include:

Well fitted respirator
eye protection (e.g., goggles or face shield)
gowns
gloves

Recommended PPE for all patient encounters should be based on a point of care risk assessment (PCRA), which should consider:

community epidemiology of COVID-19
ventilation assessed by the organization as adequate
crowding and occupancy of spaces
patient not yet clinically evaluated (e.g., Emergency Areas)
likelihood of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens based on:
specific interaction
specific task
specific patient
specific environment, and
available conditions

Additional recommendations include:

Continue to adhere to, reinforce, evaluate and monitor the full range of existing COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures and guidance
Continue to implement and re-evaluate the hierarchy of controls within the healthcare environment including:
- engineering and administrative controls
- all HCWs should be vaccinated with booster vaccines
- processes and written procedures to manage HCW exposures to COVID-19 and illness
- environmental cleaning and disinfection
- active screening and notification
- physical distancing

As information becomes available, these recommendations will be re-evaluated and updated as needed. HCWs should refer to provincial and territorial guidance and facility policies on specific recommendations for use of medical masks, eye protection and other PPE, as well as PPE conservation strategies.

For further PPE guidance refer to:

Personal Protective Equipment

Medical Masks and Respirators

Non-Medical Masks (PHAC)

Prevention & Management of Skin Damage Related to PPE (NSWOCC and CNA)