[MCOH-EH] Skin Issues related to prolonged use of N95's

[Quin Bond]

I was curious about this and reached out to some occupational health 
providers that deal with fit testing.  They did not have a solid answer 
but provided this study which looked at using vaseline as a seal with 
N95 masks.  As vaseline can be used for other skin irritation issues, 
this may be a possible solution.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15459624.2015.1043050

Rajeev B. Patel, Shaji D. Skaria, Mohamed M. Mansour & Gerald C. 
Smaldone(2016)Respiratory source control using a surgical mask: An /in 
vitro/ study,Journal of Occupational and Environmental 
Hygiene,13:7,569-576,DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2015.1043050 
<https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2015.1043050>

Interestingly, this was one of the findings:

"With cough, source control (mask or respirator on Source) was 
statistically superior to mask or unsealed respirator protection on the 
Receiver (Receiver protection) in all environments. To equal source 
control during coughing, the N95 respirator must be Vaseline-sealed."


Hope that this is helpful.

Quin

On 3/26/2020 11:24 AM, PoianiDarocki, Landa wrote:
> Good Morning,
>
> HCW's  are starting to experience chafing & skin issues caused by prolonged wearing of N95's.
> How are you addressing these? Can you share any recommendations to address these, prevent or treat that doesn't interrupt the respirators seal.
> Thank you,
>
> Landa PoianiDarocki MSN, RN, APN-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN
> VP Occupational & Worksite Health
> Occupational Health
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH
> Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 11:12 AM
> To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
> Cc: Abhijay Karandikar <dr_abhik at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [External] - [MCOH-EH] COVID-19: GI symptoms and co-morbidities
>
> Note that this email originated outside of the Hackensack Meridian Health Network. DO NOT CLICK ON LINKS or OPEN FILE ATTACHMENTS unless you know and trust the sender.
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Apart from screening for the usual respiratory symptoms, are you quarantining employees with GI symptoms in them or their family/contacts? If so, what symptom / symptom complex are you using? Are symptoms considered sufficiently reliable and prodromal to institute isolation?
>
> This is from the American College of Gastroenterology: "The incidence of GI symptoms including nausea and/or diarrhea are uncertain with some reports below 5% and others at 50%.  There have been some reports of isolated diarrhea preceding cough and fever. "
>
> 2. Similarly, for health systems that are restricting employees from working with COVID-19 patients based on co-morbidities eg. cardiovascular, diabetes, Hepatitis B, COPD, CKD, cancers, is this based on consensus, IP recommendations or do you have new/emerging data that you are willing to share? There have been e-mails on this list looking at respiratory conditions, pregnancy and immunosuppression as disqualifiers from working with COVID-19 patients.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Stay safe and healthy everyone....
>
> Abhijay
>
> Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM
>
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-- 
Quin Bond
Manager, Motion Analysis Laboratory
Biokinetics LLC
PO Box 81
Middletown, NJ  07748

Voice: 732-796-7370
Fax: 732-796-7338

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