By Lindsay Weaver, MD
ISDH Chief Medical Officer
Recently, there has been renewed attention to PPE, specifically masks, as states release their reopening plans and make recommendations or requirements for businesses and citizens. Many outpatient practices are now opening their doors for the first time after several weeks of practicing telehealth.
In the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, hundreds of clinicians were quarantined after exposures to patients they did not suspect to have COVID-19. As a reminder, not all COVID-19 patients present with respiratory symptoms. Many will present with gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, back pain or even a decreased appetite. Additionally, 45% of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 during the Indiana prevalence study reported no symptoms. The below statement is from the CDC.
Health Care Personnel
As part of source control efforts, health care personnel (HCP) should wear a face mask at all times while they are in the health care facility. When available, face masks are generally preferred over cloth face coverings for HCP, as face masks offer both source control and protection for the wearer against exposure to splashes and sprays of infectious material from others.
If there are anticipated shortages of face masks, face masks should be prioritized for HCP and then for patients with symptoms of COVID-19 (as supply allows). Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn instead of a respirator or facemask if more than source control is required.
Battelle N95 mask decontamination program
ISDH has partnered with the Battelle Memorial Institute to bring the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System (CCDS) to Indiana. This system will enable physicians and others to decontaminate N95 respirators up to 20 times. Note: all N-95s will need to be free of any contaminants or stains such as makeup and blood.
This system is available for use free of charge to providers and facilities across Indiana. To use the Battelle CCDS, physicians must
enroll in this program. After enrollees complete the enrollment form, Battelle will email links to the enrollment contract, instructions, and their Battelle point of contact (POC).
Please see
this presentation and
this letter for more information on using the Battelle system.
Read more of the CDC recommendations on preventing exposure here.
ISMA’s Safe Return to Clinical Practice offers further guidance.