Dr Susan Jain1, Mrs Kathy Dempsey
1Clinical Excellence Commission, St Leonards , Australia
Aim: To assess the efficacy of beard wrap in achieving an adequate seal with tight-fitting disposable P2/N95 respirators using quantitative fit testing in health workers with facial hair that cannot shave due to medical, religious, or cultural reasons.
Methods: Bearded adult males underwent quantitative fit testing with a beard wrap using fit testing device on up to five disposable P2/N95 respirators. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants that passed or failed quantitative fit testing with a beard wrap and secondary outcome was the adverse reactions to the beard wrap. Ethics approval obtained from relevant authority.
Findings: Thirty participants were assessed, 24 (80%) passed quantitative fit testing with at least one tight-fitting P2/N95 disposable respirator. The participants were tested on a median (IQR) of 4 (3-4) tight-fitting P2/N95 disposable respirators. No subject had any adverse reaction to the beard wrap.
Conclusion: The beard wrapping technique may be used to achieve a satisfactory seal with tight-fitting P2/N95 respirators in health workers with facial hair that cannot shave.
Background: Tight-fitting respirators are a critical component of respiratory protection against airborne diseases for health workers. However, they are not recommended for health workers with facial hair. Some health workers are unable to remove their facial hair for medical, religious, or cultural reasons. Beard wrapping technique have been proposed as a solution to allow health workers with facial hair to wear tight-fitting respirators. Yet, studies to date have been limited by their predominant reliance on qualitative rather than quantitative fit testing techniques.
Biography: Susan Jain is the principal advisor and COVID-19 response lead of the Healthcare Associated Infection program at the Clinical Excellence Commission, New South Wales. She has a Doctorate in transmission-based precautions and a Master of International Public Health from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Nursing from University of Wollongong. She has nine category A* publications and conjoint academic at UNSW and guest lecturer at University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney. Susan also holds the award of Credentialled Infection Control Professional-Expert and member at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) committee.