Obstetricians on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Front Lines and the Confusing World of Personal Protective Equipment

Denise J Jamieson; James P Steinberg; Richard A Martinello; Trish M Perl; Sonja A Rasmussen

doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003919

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Obstetricians on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Front Lines and the Confusing World of Personal Protective Equipment

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Obstetricians on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Front Lines and the Confusing World of Personal Protective Equipment

Denise J Jamieson, James P Steinberg, Richard A Martinello, Trish M Perl and Sonja A Rasmussen

Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953), Vol.135(6), pp.1257-1263

06/2020

DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003919

PMCID: PMC7188024

PMID: 32304512

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https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc7188024View

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Abstract

As health care systems struggle to maintain adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, there is confusion and anxiety among obstetricians and others about how to best protect themselves, their coworkers, and their patients. Although use of personal protective equipment is a critical strategy to protect health care personnel from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), other strategies also need to be implemented on labor and delivery units to reduce the risk of health care-associated transmission, including screening of all pregnant women who present for care (case identification), placing a mask on and rapidly isolating ill pregnant women, and minimizing the number of personnel who enter the room of an ill patient (physical distancing). Although the mechanism of transmission of COVID-19 is not known with certainty, current evidence suggests that COVID-19 is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets. Therefore, strict adherence to hand hygiene and consistent use of recommended personal protective equipment are cornerstones for reducing transmission. In addition, it is critical that health care professionals receive training on and practice correct donning (putting on) and doffing (removing) of personal protective equipment and avoid touching their faces as well as their facial protection to minimize self-contamination.

Betacoronavirus

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S

Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology

Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control

Coronavirus Infections - transmission

COVID-19

Female

Health Personnel - education

Humans

Infection Control - instrumentation

Infection Control - methods

Obstetrics

Pandemics - prevention & control

Personal Protective Equipment

Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology

Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control

Pneumonia, Viral - transmission

Practice Guidelines as Topic

Pregnancy

SARS-CoV-2

United States

Details

Title: Subtitle: Obstetricians on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Front Lines and the Confusing World of Personal Protective Equipment
Creators: Denise J Jamieson - Emory University
James P Steinberg - Emory University
Richard A Martinello - Emory University
Trish M Perl - Emory University
Sonja A Rasmussen - Emory University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953), Vol.135(6), pp.1257-1263
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003919
PMID: 32304512
PMCID: PMC7188024
ISSN: 0029-7844
eISSN: 1873-233X
Language: English
Date published: 06/2020
Academic Unit: Obstetrics and Gynecology; VPMA - Administration
Record Identifier: 9984446533302771

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