Are coveralls required as personal protective equipment during the management of COVID-19 patients?

• Published in: Antimicrobial resistance & infection control 2021-11, Vol.10 (1), p.1-164, Article 164
• Main Authors: Jung, Jongtak, Song, Kyoung-Ho, Jeong, Hyeonju, Ham, Sin Young, Kim, Eu Suk, Kim, Hong Bin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Contamination; Coronavirus disease; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease control; Drug resistance; Masks; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Personal protective equipment; Protective clothing; Protective equipment; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Short Report
• ISSN: 2047-2994; 2047-2994
• DOI: 10.1186/s13756-021-01017-3

Objectives Few studies have investigated the contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the management of patients with severe-to-critical coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine the necessity of coveralls and foot covers for body protection during the management of COVID-19 patients. Methods PPE samples were collected from the coveralls of physicians exiting a room after the management of a patient with severe-to-critical COVID-19 within 14 days after the patient's symptom onset. The surface of coveralls was categorized into coverall-only parts (frontal surface of the head, anterior neck, dorsal surface of the foot cover, and back and hip) and gown-covered parts (the anterior side of the forearm and the abdomen). Sampling of the high-contact surfaces in the patient's environment was performed. We attempted to identify significant differences in contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between the coverall-only and gown-covered parts. Results A total of 105 swabs from PPEs and 28 swabs from patient rooms were collected. Of the PPE swabs, only three (2.8%) swabs from the gown-covered parts were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. However, 23 of the 28 sites (82.1%) from patient rooms were contaminated. There was a significant difference in the contamination of PPE between the coverall-only and gown-covered parts (0.0 vs 10.0%, p = 0.022). Conclusions Coverall contamination rarely occurred while managing severe-to-critical COVID-19 patients housed in negative pressure rooms in the early stages of the illness. Long-sleeved gowns may be used in the management of COVID-19 patients. Keywords: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Coronavirus disease, Personal protective equipment