Washington – The Institute of Medicine on Jan. 27 released a report on personal protective equipment for health care workers in an effort to prevent transmission of pandemic influenza and other viral respiratory diseases.
The report updates previous research and recommends a four-pronged strategy for effective PPE use:
- Deliberate preparation at the leadership and organizational levels
- Comprehensive training for all personnel
- Widespread and convenient availability of PPE
- Accountability at every level
IOM also found gaps in research and offered several recommendations aimed at continuing the research momentum. Among them:
- Develop standardized terms and definitions
- Examine the effectiveness of facemasks and faceshields
- Explore health care safety culture and work
