Airborne personal protective equipment availability and preparedness in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units: A point prevalence survey

Abstract

Background: Personal protective equipment is essential to protect healthcare workers when exposed to aerosol-generating procedures in patients with airborne respiratory pathogens.

Aim: This study aimed to provide information regarding the level of airborne protection offered to nursing staff and other healthcare workers in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units (ICUs) 1 year into the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, ICUs in Australia and New Zealand were asked to participate in the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group Point Prevalence Program in June 2021. Sites were asked to contribute to questions regarding airborne protection offered to nursing staff and other healthcare workers.

Results: There were 51 participating sites. Negative-pressure bed space availability within participating ICUs included 24 with more than two, 15 with two, eight with one, and one ICU that did not have any. The median (interquartile range) number of different models and sizes of N95/P2 masks available to ICU staff was 6 (4-7). Of the 1018 nursing staff working that day in the units, 799 (78.5%) had at least one fit-tested N95/P2 mask in the correct size available. A total of 712 patients (461 medical and 251 surgical) were cared for by 700 bedside nurses in these ICUs. Overall, adequate airborne protection preparedness (airborne personal protective equipment training and fit-testing since the pandemic) was present in 548 (78.3%) bedside nurses.

Conclusions: Over a year into the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, airborne protection provided to nursing and other healthcare staff in Australia and New Zealand was often inadequate.

Keywords: COVID-19; Fit-testing; Hospital protection program; N95-mask; P2-mask; Personal protective equipment; Training.