April 27, 2024, 12:00 am
N95 Respirators Help Prevent Healthcare Infections
Healthcare workers are at risk of contracting infections from patients, and one of the most effective ways to prevent this is to wear a particulate respirator type N95. N95 respirators are designed to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles, including bacteria and viruses.
A recent study published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found that healthcare workers who wore N95 respirators were less likely to develop respiratory infections than those who did not. The study included over 1,000 healthcare workers who were exposed to patients with influenza or other respiratory viruses. The results showed that those who wore N95 respirators were 40% less likely to develop a respiratory infection than those who did not.
N95 respirators are not only effective in preventing respiratory infections, but they can also help to prevent other types of infections, such as tuberculosis and measles. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthcare workers wear N95 respirators when they are caring for patients with suspected or confirmed infectious diseases.
If you are a healthcare worker, it is important to wear a particulate respirator type N95 when you are exposed to patients with respiratory infections. N95 respirators are an effective way to protect yourself from infection and help to keep your patients safe.
How to Wear an N95 Respirator
- Wash your hands.
- Place the respirator over your nose and mouth.
- Pull the bottom straps over your head and adjust them so that the respirator fits snugly against your face.
- Pull the top straps over your head and adjust them so that the respirator fits snugly against your face.
- Check the seal of the respirator by covering the front of the respirator with your hands and exhaling. If you feel air escaping, adjust the straps until the respirator fits snugly against your face.
When to Replace an N95 Respirator
- When the respirator becomes dirty or damaged.
- When the respirator becomes difficult to breathe through.
- When the respirator is no longer fitting snugly against your face.
