title: Ebola Care and Lack of Consensus on Personal Protective Respiratory Equipment.
abstract: The Ebola epidemic in West Africa presents a considerable occupational risk to the health personnel involved. The principal mode of virus transmission to health care personnel is through direct contact with the patient, although transmission by aerosols through the air may also occur. Many safety protocols have been suggested relating to personal protection and particularly respiratory protection. It is generally agreed that all health care workers should have easy access to personal protective equipment. However, the degree of respiratory safety escalates from a mask, to an adequate respirator, and finally to a whole body suit with integrated helmet and positive air pressure. Recent publications demonstrate a lack of consensus on the degree of safety necessary. The step from "safe enough" to being "absolutely safe" seems, in most countries, insurmountable because of costs and logistics.
authors.affiliation: Oslo University Hospital University of Bergen.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Hanoa
authors.affiliation: University of Bergen bente.moen@cih.uib.no.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moen
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008397:Masks / Q000592:standards*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards*; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000592:standards; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Ebola virus diseases; health care workers; occupational safety; personal protective equipment; respiratory protective equipment