title: Moderate Thermal Strain in Healthcare Workers Wearing Personal Protective Equipment During Treatment and Care Activities in the Context of the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak.
abstract: The extent of thermal strain while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during care activities for Ebola virus disease patients has not yet been characterized. From January to March 2015, 25 French healthcare workers (HCWs) in Conakry, Guinea, volunteered to be monitored while wearing PPE using an ingestible thermal sensor. The mean (standard deviation) working ambient temperature and relative humidity were 29.6 °C (2.0 °C) and 65.4% (10.3%), respectively; the mean time wearing PPE was 65.7 (13.5) minutes; and the mean core body temperature increased by 0.46 °C (0.20 °C). Four HCWs reached or exceeded a mean core body temperature of ≥ 38.5 °C. HCWs wearing PPE for approximately 1 hour exhibited moderate but safe thermal strain.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, Marseille.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grélot
authors.affiliation: Guinean Military Health Services, Conakry, Guinea.
authors.forename: Fassou
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koulibaly
authors.affiliation: FREMM Aquitaine BCRM Brest.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maugey
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Saint Anne, Biological Department, Toulon.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Janvier
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Percy, Internal Medicine Department, Clamart.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foissaud
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Percy, Internal Medicine Department, Clamart.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aletti
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Laveran, Neurological Department, Marseille.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Saint Anne, Biological Department, Toulon.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cotte
authors.affiliation: French Forces Health Services, Fort Neuf de Vincennes, Cours des Maréchaux.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dampierre
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Clermont Tonnerre, Internal Medicine Department, Brest.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Granier
authors.affiliation: French Military Teaching Hospital Val de Grâce, Internal Medicine Department Val de Grâce Military Academy, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carmoi
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, Marseille French Military Teaching Hospital Laveran, Neurological Department, Marseille Val de Grâce Military Academy, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D016701:Guinea; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D062125:Thermometry / Q000379:methods
keywords: Ebola virus disease outbreak; core body temperature; healthcare workers; heat stress; personal protective equipment; treatment and care activities