Thread by @petermbenglish

I was just at a Covid testing centre (accompanying somebody for a PCR test prior to a procedure).

I am shocked at the PPE used.

Staff wore gowns, plastic aprons, and magic gloves, as if dealing with a predominantly fomite-spread pathogen.
1/10

I've no real problem with the gowns and aprons - although they are likely a waste of money.

The gloves are worse than useless. They should be washing their hands with soap and water regularly (say, every hour); and using alcohol hand gel between patients.
2/10

Wearing gloves provides a false sense of security, and can reduce adherence to good hand-hygiene practice - you feel protected (although the gloves can spread fomites just as easily as bare hands can, if not gelled between patients).
3/10

What really shocked me, though, was the lack of droplet protection.

Perhaps they feel that because it's done outdoors (it was a drive-through centre) droplet protection is not necessary.
4/10

As the person being swabbed demonstrated, however, taking a throat swab often makes the patient gag and splutter, effectively firing large and small respiratory droplets at the person taking the swab, from inches away.

5/10

The swabber is therefore likely to be showered with droplets, at close range. This is precisely the sort of contact for which a higher quality mask (FFP2 at the very least; better still FFP2 ) AND eye protection should be worn.

6/10

I have banged on a lot (with very good reason) about people wearing a visor without a mask. (eg threadreaderapp.com/thread/1457652… )

This, however, is the sort of occasion when wearing a visor (with a high quality mask, of course) IS appropriate.

7/10

Indeed, a PAPR ( imperial.ac.uk/song-group/res… ) might provide optimal protection and comfort.

8/10

The failure to protect much-needed workers is horrifying.

We are planning to make vaccination mandatory for HCWs, but we can't even protect them properly with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

9/10

All health sector trade unions - @TheBMA @theRCN @unisontheunion @unitetheunion etc - should be on the barricades about the ongoing lack of appropriate infection control advice and personal protective equipment for staff.

10/10

@threadreaderapp unroll

@threadreaderapp ps - @Ride4Truth pointed out that I forgot to mention… The HCWs were wearing poorly-fitting FRSMs (fluid resistant surgical masks) - which provide quite good source control (protect you from the wearer), but poor protection for the wearer cf FFP2, FFP3 or better respirators.