Efficacy of personal protective equipment to prevent environmental infection of COVID-19 among healthcare workers: a systematic review.

Sani Rachman Soleman; Zhaoqing Lyu; Takuya Okada; Mariko Harada Sassa; Yukiko Fujii; Manal A M Mahmoud; Daniel K Ebner; Kouji H Harada

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Efficacy of personal protective equipment to prevent environmental infection of COVID-19 among healthcare workers: a systematic review.

Author: Sani Rachman SOLEMAN ¹ ; Zhaoqing LYU ¹ ; Takuya OKADA ¹ ; Mariko Harada SASSA ¹ ; Yukiko FUJII ² ; Manal A M MAHMOUD ³ ; Daniel K EBNER ⁴ ; Kouji H HARADA ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Health and Environmental Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
2. Daiichi University of Pharmacy.
3. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University.
4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: COVID-19; Environmental infection; Facial masks; Healthcare workers; Personal protective equipment
MeSH: Humans; COVID-19/prevention & control*; Pandemics/prevention & control*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Personal Protective Equipment; Health Personnel
From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2023;28():1-1
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Healthcare workers (HCWs) employed personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial to protecting themselves from infection. To highlight the efficacy of PPE in preventing environmental infection among HCWs, a systematic review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidance.
METHODS:A search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted from January 2019 to April 2021 using pre-defined search terms. Articles were screened by three researchers. The approved papers were read in full and included in this review if relevance was mutually agreed upon. Data were extracted by study design and types of PPEs.
RESULTS:47 of 108 identified studies met the inclusion criteria, with seven reviews and meta-analyses, seven cohort, nine case-control, fifteen cross-sectional studies, four before and after, four case series, and one modeling studies. Wearing PPE offered COVID-19 protection in HCWs but required adequate training. Wearing surgical masks provided improved protection over cloth masks, while the benefit of powered air-purifying respirators is less clear, as are individual gowns, gloves, and/or face shields.
CONCLUSIONS:Wearing PPE, especially facial masks, is necessary among HCWs, while training in proper use of PPE is also important to prevent COVID-19 infection.