Personal protective equipment usage, recycling and disposal among spine surgeons: An Asia Pacific Spine Society survey

Abstract

Purpose: In this study we investigated on the personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, recycling, and disposal among spine surgeons in the Asia Pacific region. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among spine surgeons in Asia Pacific. The questionnaires were focused on the usage, recycling and disposal of PPE. Results: Two hundred and twenty-two surgeons from 19 countries participated in the survey. When we sub-analysed the differences between countries, the provision of adequate PPE by hospitals ranged from 37.5% to 100%. The usage of PPE was generally high. The most used PPE were surgical face masks (88.7%), followed by surgical caps (88.3%), gowns (85.6%), sterile gloves (83.3%) and face shields (82.0%). The least used PPE were powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) (23.0%) and shoes/boots (45.0%). The commonly used PPE for surgeries involving COVID-19 positive patients were N95 masks (74.8%), sterile gloves (73.0%), gowns (72.1%), surgical caps (71.6%), face shields (64.4%), goggles (64.0%), shoe covers (58.6%), plastic aprons (45.9%), shoes/boots (45.9%), surgical face masks (36.5%) and PAPRs (21.2%). Most PPE were not recycled. Biohazard bins were the preferred method of disposal for all types of PPE items compared to general waste. Conclusions: The usage of PPE was generally high among most countries especially for surgeries involving COVID-19 positive patients except for Myanmar and Nepal. Overall, the most used PPE were surgical face masks. For surgeries involving COVID-19 positive patients, the most used PPE were N95 masks. Most PPE were not recycled. Biohazard bins were the preferred method of disposal for all types of PPE.

Personal protective equipment implementation in healthcare: A scoping review

“…Likewise, PPE implementation barriers reported by studies from LMICs mainly indicate poor infrastructure in HFs 32 and no access to PPE. 18,83 PPE is strongly associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection. Global PPE shortages during the pandemic has been widely reported, 101,102 with increases in demand for medical masks and a breakdown in the global supply chain.…”

“…. HFs adopted solutions such as respirator reuse without any decontamination and reprocessing process or protocols, 44,61,64,81,83 contrary to international recommendations. 104 LMICs have been most severely affected.…”

“…44,64 Two authors reported that HW had no other options but to purchase their own PPE in retail settings. 18,83 Implementation interventions: To minimize PPE shortages masks can be donated, 77,91 mobile teams can provide PPE to hospitals actively evaluating patients for respiratory infection disease, 84 nondisposable respirators can be allocated preferentially to clinical staff with direct airway manipulation, 20,22,31,53,84 and procedures to reduce the degradation of the equipment can be employed. 35 Education was reported to reduce unnecessary PPE use and waste.…”

Key ingredients and recycling strategy of personal protective equipment (PPE): Towards sustainable solution for the COVID-19 like pandemics

“…The current PPE need has also affected other enterprises dependence upon PPE, including structure, installation, oil and gas energy, shipping, firefighting, and food outcome. As a result, there has been unprecedented acceleration in the use of PPE [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] . As the predominance of COVID-19, medical waste production, such as gowns, inspection kits, plastic boxes, and syringes after discovering the COVID-19 vaccine, has been grown worldwide is a notable warning to the climate and public well-being.…”

Personal protection equipment for orthopaedic and trauma surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: The results of an EFORT survey initiative

“…Soon, various problems with a substantial impact on the working environment and staff safety appeared related to the availability, use, rationing, modification, compliance and recycling of PPE ( 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 ). Later, it was also observed that PPE might cause problems to surgeons of certain specialties and adversely affect their surgical performance, for example, due to a negative impact on vision and communication ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ).…”