For example, an N95 filtering facepiece respirator is recommended by many healthcare organizations. Various devices and guidelines have been developed and clinically used to minimize the risk of exposure. IntroductionĮmergency physicians are the front-line healthcare workers who are at risk for exposure to airborne and aerosolized infectious hazards during invasive and emergent procedures, such as endotracheal intubation. Therefore, emergency physicians should identify and wear respirators that provide the best personalized fit for intended tasks. Motion during endotracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopes influenced the protective performance of some respirators.

There were no significant differences in intubation time and success rate according to respirator types. Compared to fold-type respirator without a valve, FF and FF% values were lower when participants wore a cup-type respirator (200 FF versus 200 FF, 100% versus 74.16% all ) or fold-type respirator with a valve (200 FF versus 142.5 FF, 100% versus 62.50% all ). The primary outcome was respirators’ fit factors (FF), and secondary outcomes were acceptable protection (percentage of scores above 100 FF ). We performed quantitative fit tests using respirators (cup type, fold type without a valve, and fold type with a valve) before and during intubation. A randomized crossover study of 24 emergency physicians was performed. This study aimed to determine whether endotracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopes affected protection performances of respirators. Emergency physicians are at risk for infection during invasive procedures, and the respirators can reduce this risk.

Frontline solver hyun soo ahn