Availability of personal protective equipment and infection prevention supplies during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic: A national study by the APIC COVID-19 task force

Abstract

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.

Food Handling Practices in the Era of COVID-19: A Mixed-Method Longitudinal Needs Assessment of Consumers in the United States

“…In June 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned against using certain alcohol-based hand sanitizers because they may contain ingredients like methanol, which may be toxic and cause adverse effects if used or ingested (70). Another reason for less hand sanitizer use might be due to the low availability of hand sanitizer during the pandemic (58).…”

Availability and crisis standards of care for personal protective equipment during fall 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic: A national study by the APIC COVID-19 task force

“…The findings of this study indicate that IPs are reporting better access to PPE and infection prevention supplies in fall, 2020 compared to a similar study conducted with APIC members in spring 2020. 2 However, disinfection supplies, N95s, isolation gowns (including cloth and washable), and gloves continue to be lacking and remain the PPE most often in insufficient supply. This data reflects findings from other COVID-19-related studies examining PPE access throughout the pandemic.…”

“…Within just a few months of the pandemic, many hospitals and healthcare facilities reported personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention supply anticipated and actual shortages. 1 , 2 This required healthcare facilities to begin utilizing crisis capacity strategies to conserve PPE. Healthcare facilities were forced to implement strategies to reuse, conserve and prioritize the use of eye protection, isolation gowns, masks, and N95 respirators (i.e., to implement crisis standards of care (CSC) related to PPE).…”

“… 3 , 4 A national study conducted in March 2020 found that many hospitals and healthcare facilities were running dangerously low or even out of face shields, N95 respirators, hand sanitizer, and disinfection supplies. 2 Soon after findings from this study were made public, the Defense Production Act was activated, which included provisions to ramp up production of PPE and other critical supplies. 5 In late spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for optimizing PPE supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seropositivity among Healthcare Personnel in Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Rhode Island, USA, July–August 2020

“…Hospital personnel conduct activities ranging from infection screening to administering advanced life support measures and may be exposed to patients with high viral loads ( 3 ). Infection risk can be exacerbated by shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) and other resources, including staff ( 4 , 5 ). Nursing homes have been referred to as “ground zero” ( 6 ) of the pandemic because resident deaths have contributed disproportionately to overall COVID-19 mortality ( 2 , 7 ).…”