Respiratory Protection
why ESTABLISH A RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AND FIT-TESTING PROGRAM?
There has recently been a renewed interest in healthcare on the appropriate use of respiratory protection. This attention is driven in part by an increasing concern over multi-drug resistant bacteria like tuberculosis (MDR-RB), novel viruses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and emerging infectious diseases like Ebola. This awareness also extends to anticipated new risks regarding chemical, biological, and radiological hazards addressed through emergency preparedness training, which clinicians may have not considered before.
Respirators are used to protect against exposures to airborne transmissible infectious diseases, as well as chemicals and certain drugs that may be used in healthcare settings. OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard requires that health care employers establish and maintain a respiratory protection program in workplaces where workers may be exposed to respiratory hazards. Although Georgia is not an OSHA-regulated state, we are obligated to establish and administer a State Plan that is at or above the federal standards set by OSHA.
Georgia Department of Public Health has recently established a Respiratory Protection Task Force, which is tasked with developing a written plan, training, and policy standards that can be adopted across the state.
Georgia Department of Public Health has recently established a Respiratory Protection Task Force, which is tasked with developing a written plan, training, and policy standards that can be adopted across the state.
3m toolkit for establishing a fit test programThe information provided by this 3M toolkit is designed to highlight major steps involved in setting up a respiratory protection program and identify additional resources. It is not specific to the healthcare setting, but is a valuable tool for developing a program that meets OSHA standards.
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CDC HOSPITAL RESPIRATORY PROTECTION TOOLKITThis Toolkit, developed by the CDC in May 2015, is geared toward Respiratory Protection in an acute care setting, but can be applicable for personnel protection outside of the hospital. The toolkit covers respirator use, public health guidance on respirator use during exposure to infectious diseases, hazard assessment, the development of a hospital respiratory protection program, and an editable document that each hospital can customize to meet its specific needs.
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California department of public health
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n95 Fit Testing resources
Complete N95 Research from National Library of Medicine
Minnesota Department of Health Respiratory Protection Program Website
NIOSH Respiratory Protection Toolkit, 2015
Qualitative Fit Test Instructions
Grainger Respirator Fit Testing Requirements and Procedures
OSHA Fit Test Video
3M Qualitative Fit Test Instructions
OSHA Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Minnesota Department of Health Respiratory Protection Program Website
NIOSH Respiratory Protection Toolkit, 2015
Qualitative Fit Test Instructions
Grainger Respirator Fit Testing Requirements and Procedures
OSHA Fit Test Video
3M Qualitative Fit Test Instructions
OSHA Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Seasonal flu
Although not technically in the "Pandemic" category, here are some quick resources on Seasonal Flu.
- What You Should Know for the 2014-2015 Influenza Season
- Info from the CDC about The US Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network
- Information for Health Professionals
- Weekly Flu View (CDC): Flu View is a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by CDC’s Influenza Division. All data are preliminary and may change as CDC receives more reports.
- Planning and Preparedness: Health Professionals and Seasonal Flu – (HHS): Healthcare providers play an important role during flu season. The following guidance and information will assist healthcare providers and service organizations to plan and respond to seasonal flu.
The Rise in Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 million patients in American hospitals each year are infected during their hospital stays. Of these 90,000 die; in 70 percent of the cases, the bacteria that kill them are resistant to at least one commonly used antibiotic. Why are antibiotics failing us? One reason is that we use them too often to treat conditions that more often than not could be defeated by the body's immune system without medical intervention. Another reason is that antibiotics have become omnipresent, in our food and water supply, as farmers feed them to cattle and poultry and spray them on crops. As we ingest them in low doses, bacteria become familiar with them and mutate to protect themselves. The situation is already serious. It threatens to become worse -- much worse. We have to be ready before that happens because, if it does -- perhaps naturally, perhaps as the result of a terrorist attack -- it could be too late to prevent an outbreak of pandemic proportions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an easy-to-use data tool on its website on Tuesday that tracks trends in antibiotic-resistant bacteria across the country from 1996 to 2013. The tool is called NARMS Now: Human Data. It shows state and US trends in antibiotic resistance across different types of bacteria.