title: Personal protective equipment and antiviral drug use during hospitalization for suspected avian or pandemic influenza.
abstract: For pandemic influenza planning, realistic estimates of personal protective equipment (PPE) and antiviral medication required for hospital healthcare workers (HCWs) are vital. In this simulation study, a patient with suspected avian or pandemic influenza (API) sought treatment at 9 Australian hospital emergency departments where patient-staff interactions during the first 6 hours of hospitalization were observed. Based on World Health Organization definitions and guidelines, the mean number of "close contacts" of the API patient was 12.3 (range 6-17; 85% HCWs); mean "exposures" were 19.3 (range 15-26). Overall, 20-25 PPE sets were required per patient, with variable HCW compliance for wearing these items (93% N95 masks, 77% gowns, 83% gloves, and 73% eye protection). Up to 41% of HCW close contacts would have qualified for postexposure antiviral prophylaxis. These data indicate that many current national stockpiles of PPE and antiviral medication are likely inadequate for a pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swaminathan
authors.forename: Rhea
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Sandi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gamon
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aboltins
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Athan
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Braitberg
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Catton
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cooley
authors.forename: Dominic E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: Damon P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosking
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Andrew V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: S Erica
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Rhonda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: M Lindsay
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Grayson
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents