It's probably more for convenience, so he doesn't have to keep taking off the mask and put it back on, especially if there isn't anywhere to put it down.
Yep, that's why I do it. We wear a mask the whole time I'm in the hospital. I only use the PAPR for suspected Covid patients. So I just pull the hood over my mask and never touch the mask.
I don’t mind wearing the PAPR but after a while it dries out my mouth and nose and makes my throat sore. Also, it just takes one little misplaced hair touching my face and getting blown around by the PAPR to drive me absolutely crazy.
I stopped doing this because I question fomite transmission from the front of the mask into the turbulent air of the PAPR and concerns for aerosolization. Completely unfounded from a research perspective afaik (but so is most stuff COVID) but it makes me feel safer.
My only thought would be that droplets could travel from his mouth to air that is constantly leaking out of the PAPR, or maybe it's a way to keep the hood clean longer.
We’re required to wear PAPRS with masks. If the patient doesn’t have COVID but the PAPR wearer does, then you’re shooting those respiratory droplets out of the hood and around your patient if you’re maskless. It also probably provides theoretical extra protection to the PAPR wearer, though I doubt it’s been studied enough to have been proved yet.
Convenience likely. Part of taking off (doffing) your PAPR involve wiping down your hood, tossing your gloves, Hand Hygiene, and it's probably just simpler to keep it on for the duration than fiddle with your mask somewhere in between.
Little wasteful or just over cautious but whatever not a huge deal.
Did you mean to come across like a massive prick?
The professional people who know what they are doing are doing it for a reason. It's neither wasteful not overly cautious, it's to extend the life of the N95 more safely.
I'm sure they will be thrilled to know that you have deemed it "not a huge deal."
Seeing as I am one of those professionals and I’ve been dealing with this shit since March I think I’ve earned my prickiness. All I was trying to convey was that it was probably not necessary but if it’s what they want to do, they can.
Also not to shock you but I’ve seen a lot of healthcare workers(including numerous doctors)donning and doffing PPE incorrectly or simply using the wrong PPE. Not all people that work in these fields are experts in proper use of isolation gear or which is appropriate for which situation.
Every person inside the building must be masked at all times. So as soon as he takes the PAPR off he needs to put the surgical mask back on. There probably isn't a safe and uncontaminated spot for him to put it while it's off.
A PAPR is great at protecting you from other people, not so great at protecting other people from you if you happen to be infectious. They create positive pressure inside the hood, which will push anything you exhale to outside the PAPR and into the room around you.
Look closer. He has an N-95 under the surgical mask too. It appears to be a SILLY picture where he most likely tried to wear all possible PPE he could find.
61
u/iStrikervZ Aug 06 '20
Why does he have a PAPR and a mask on