PPE safe, but not foolproof
University of Auckland microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles says health professionals wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) can be infected by Covid-19.
Wiles’ comments follow the announcement that three nurses from Waitakere Hospital in Auckland had contracted Covid-19 and reports suggest they were wearing PPE. The staff had been working at the West Auckland hospital where patients with the virus were transferred from Te Atatu’s St Margaret’s Hospital and Rest Home.
Waitemata¯ District Health Board deputy chief executive Dr Andrew Brant said on Friday they were investigating.
‘‘It is unclear at this stage whether contact with those patients was the source of the staff contracting Covid-19, or whether any of the cases are linked.
‘‘Full personal protective equipment (PPE) was made available and worn by staff at all times in this area,’’ he said. ‘‘The DHB has an auditing programme in place on the appropriate use of PPE for all Covid-19 patients. An urgent review is in progress to understand how and where the infection may have occurred.’’
At a press conference Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the
Government had been assured that the staff involved had been wearing personal protective equipment.
‘‘But also be aware that, as we’ve said a number of times, that unfortunately PPE is not foolproof.’’
Wiles agreed with Robertson’s comments, but said there are a number of unanswered questions. ‘‘When did they get it and was it related to them carrying out their job wearing PPE, or was it in another situation where they weren’t?’’
She said putting on and taking off PPE often involves a rigorous process and that can lead to contamination if people don’t follow the correct procedures.
‘‘When you have people who are fatigued and have been working long shifts, it can happen,’’ Wiles said. ‘‘Whether that’s what has happened here it’s hard to say. But what we do know is PPEs are not 100 per cent safe, like any form of protection.’’
The Ministry of Health released new guidelines on Friday on the use of PPE. Health workers dealing with patients with Covid-19 are expected to wear a long-sleeve fluid-resistant gown; a surgical mask for patient contact; eye protection, or a face shield; a N95 mask for aerosol-generating procedures; non-sterile gloves and a plastic apron for non-patient contact care.