We found no significant difference between the groups in our primary outcome measures, but a trend in favour of the education group was found in radiological progression. Further studies of this kind, using larger patient numbers, are required since the difference may result from improved self-care, better compliance with joint protection strategies and, possibly, improved drug compliance.

Highlights Soon after SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, anecdotal reports indicated that many US hospitals and healthcare facilities were running low on personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies. An online survey was administered to all Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology members in March 2020, to assess access to PPE, hand hygiene products, and disinfection supplies. Findings from the study indicated that many US healthcare facilities reported having very low amounts of PPE, hand hygiene products, and disinfection supplies early on during the pandemic. Face shields and N95 respirators were the least available PPE reported. A lack of PPE can lead to occupational exposures and illness as well as healthcare-associated transmission of COVID-19 and other diseases.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages in spring 2020, necessitating crisis protocols. Methods An online survey was administered to all Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology members in October, 2020 to assess PPE availability and crisis standards utilized in fall, 2020. Results In total, 1,081 infection preventionists (IP) participated. A quarter lacked sufficient disinfection supplies, N95s, isolation gowns, and gloves; 10 – 20% lacked eye protection and hand hygiene supplies. Significantly more were reusing respirators than masks (65.6% vs 46.8%, respectively; p< .001); a third (32.0%, n=735) were re-using isolation gowns. About half (45.9%, n=496) were decontaminating respirators. Determinants of believing current PPE re-use protocols were safe and evidence-based included the IP being involved in developing COVID-19 protocols (both), having respirator reuse protocols that involve ≤ five reuses (both), using reusable respiratory protection (both), decontaminating respirators (perceived safe), and not reusing masks (perceived safe; p < .05 for all). Conclusions Although most healthcare facilities had adequate PPE in fall 2020, PPE supply chains were still disrupted, resulting in the need to reuse or decontaminate PPE. Ongoing gaps in PPE access need to be addressed in order to minimize healthcare associated infections and occupational illness.

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