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Potential Role of Personal Protective Equipment Use in the Protection Against COVID-19 Infection Among Health Care Workers

34 Pages Posted: 12 May 2020

See all articles by Wei Wang

Wei Wang

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital

Yuan-Zeng Min

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital; University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Department of Chemistry

Chun-Mei Yang

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

Hai-Ou Hong

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Anhui Provincial Hospital Health Center

Tian Xue

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health; University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

Yong Gao

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health; University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Tengchuan Jin

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC; University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

Zhao-Hui Lu

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

Liang-Ming Zhang

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Xueying Zheng

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital; University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health

Sihui Luo

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

Wei Bao

University of Iowa - Department of Epidemiology

Jian-Ping Weng

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital; University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health; Southeast University - Institute of Diabetes

More...

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a major challenge for protecting health care workers (HCWs) against the infection. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health care workplace is recommended as a high priority. We aimed to investigate the relationship between PPE use and the number of COVID-19 cases among HCWs.

Methods: We conducted a molecular epidemiological study through nucleic acid testing and SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody (IgM, IgG, IgA) among 142 HCWs who were dispatched from Hefei to work in Wuhan and 284 HCWs who remained in Hefei, China; both provided care for patients with COVID-19. We also extracted publicly released data on daily number of COVID-19 cases among HCWs, daily number of HCWs who were dispatched to Hubei province since January 24, and daily production of PPE in China and daily demand and supply of PPE in Hubei province.

Findings: Our laboratory testing confirmed that none of the 142 HCWs who were dispatched to work in Wuhan and 284 HCWs who remained in Hefei were infected by SARS-CoV-2. Consistent with these findings, as of April 16, 2020, none of the 42,600 HCWs who were successively dispatched to Hubei province since January 24, 2020 was reported to have COVID-19. In contrast, during the early phase of COVID-19 epidemic in Hubei province, a substantial shortage of PPE and an increasing number of COVID-19 infection among HCWs were reported. With the continuing increase in domestic production of PPE in China, the PPE supply started to meet and then exceed the demand. This coincided with a subsequent reduction in the number of reported COVID-19 cases among HCWs.

Interpretation: Our laboratory-confirmed findings of zero infection indicate that COVID-19 infection among HCWs could be completely prevented. Appropriate and adequate PPE might play a crucial role in protecting HCWs against COVID-19 infection.

Funding Statement: This study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (YD9110004001 and YD9110002002).

Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests.

Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

Keywords: Personal protective equipment (PPE); Mask; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; Infection control

Suggested Citation

Wang, Wei and Min, Yuan-Zeng and Yang, Chun-Mei and Hong, Hai-Ou and Xue, Tian and Gao, Yong and Jin, Tengchuan and Lu, Zhao-Hui and Zhang, Liang-Ming and Zheng, Xueying and Luo, Sihui and Bao, Wei and Weng, Jian-Ping, Potential Role of Personal Protective Equipment Use in the Protection Against COVID-19 Infection Among Health Care Workers (4/18/2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3582759 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3582759

Wei Wang

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital

Hefei, Anhui
China

Yuan-Zeng Min

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital

Hefei, Anhui
China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Department of Chemistry

Hefei, Anhui
China

Chun-Mei Yang

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

Hefei, Anhui 230036
China

Hai-Ou Hong

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Anhui Provincial Hospital Health Center

Hefei, Anhui
China

Tian Xue

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health

Hefei, Anhui
China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

Yong Gao

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health

Hefei, Anhui
China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Hefei, Anhui
China

Tengchuan Jin

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

Zhao-Hui Lu

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

Liang-Ming Zhang

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Hefei, Anhui
China

Xueying Zheng

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC

96, Jinzhai Road
Hefei, Anhui 230026
China

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital

Hefei, Anhui
China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health

Hefei, Anhui
China

Sihui Luo

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Division of Life Sciences and Medicine

Wei Bao

University of Iowa - Department of Epidemiology ( email )

145 North Riverside Drive
Iowa City, IA
United States

Jian-Ping Weng (Contact Author)

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - Clinical Research Hospital ( email )

Hefei, Anhui
China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) - Joint Laboratory of Public Health ( email )

Hefei, Anhui
China

Southeast University - Institute of Diabetes ( email )