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
(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
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
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@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 11:12 AM To: mcoh-eh@mylist.net Cc: Abhijay Karandikar <dr_abhik@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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------- The MCOH-EH List has always been moderated by members of the ACOEM Medical Center Occupational Health Section. It is currently moderated by Joe Fanucchi MD FACOEM. List membership is free, but only subscribers may post to the list. To post send messages to: mcoh-eh@mylist.net To become a subscriber, or to change your subscription options (turn off email while you're on vacation, etc): https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.mcoh-2Deh.net&d=DwICAg&c=lC2BOuyTwLhYUwx2vqZp6A4NC8GJH--j-GtKaBDeEwM&r=XMXUFszvTdRnlMYMqf3BI-TYMQM6ZMp74MXpedFxsxxSxKPXJzzwDCjcPzNU3fEv&m=wxI70q0861V2vpq758UL-OD-1QNc0f6zkMsM0lzMIGI&s=ojA50sXitDE9awCROtLv1MGmPlTxnni-q-ntOw_6mzk&e= MediTrax / Occupational Health Systems, Inc. provides financial support to ensure the list remains a free resource for the occupational health community. --------------------------------------- List archives (public): https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__mylist.net_archives_mcoh-2Deh_&d=DwICAg&c=lC2BOuyTwLhYUwx2vqZp6A4NC8GJH--j-GtKaBDeEwM&r=XMXUFszvTdRnlMYMqf3BI-TYMQM6ZMp74MXpedFxsxxSxKPXJzzwDCjcPzNU3fEv&m=wxI70q0861V2vpq758UL-OD-1QNc0f6zkMsM0lzMIGI&s=0ziOBm-6xsGWTmSsU3dS9rQ8zvRd-tfTile6KKcpSVA&e= --------------------------------------- Send administrative requests to: drjoe@meditrax.com --------------------------------------- When replying to a message, PLEASE delete all footers, and all messages to which you're NOT replying. This message was secured by Zix(R). --------------------------------------- The MCOH-EH List has always been moderated by members of the ACOEM Medical Center Occupational Health Section. It is currently moderated by Joe Fanucchi MD FACOEM. List membership is free, but only subscribers may post to the list. To post send messages to: mcoh-eh@mylist.net To become a subscriber, or to change your subscription options (turn off email while you're on vacation, etc): http://www.mcoh-eh.net MediTrax / Occupational Health Systems, Inc. provides financial support to ensure the list remains a free resource for the occupational health community. --------------------------------------- List archives (public): http://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/ --------------------------------------- Send administrative requests to: drjoe@meditrax.com --------------------------------------- When replying to a message, PLEASE delete all footers, and all messages to which you're NOT replying.
-- Quin Bond Manager, Motion Analysis Laboratory Biokinetics LLC PO Box 81 Middletown, NJ 07748 Voice: 732-796-7370 Fax: 732-796-7338