Mrs Samantha Palmby1
1St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Australia
Methods: A systematic review of the four databases was conducted using key terms and phrases. PRISMA guidelines were used to report eligible literature and outcomes. Literature was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool.
Results: A total of 170 articles were identified from the database search. Four articles were relevant to the aim of the review and included. Four main themes were identified: workforce and training requirements, the role of the observer, the need for teamwork and peer support, and PPE errors and risk reduction.
Conclusions: The role of the PPE observer is considered critical in the management of an outbreak or pandemic. However, this recommendation based on grey literature, with little supporting research. Further research into the PPE observer role is required, to evaluate the effectiveness of their position in reducing PPE errors and therefore reducing the risk of healthcare acquired transmission to HCWs.
Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) are at risk of acquiring the infection when managing highly infectious patients, due to their nature of their work and prolonged close contact. The risk is highlighted in management of an infectious disease outbreaks. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) observers has been recommended to improve the HCW compliance to PPE practices, which will reduce the risk of exposure to the HCW. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify the evidence that supports the role of the PPE observer to improve HCW PPE compliance in an infectious disease outbreak and reduce the risk a healthcare acquired infection.
Biography: Samantha has been working in Infection Prevention since 2008. She is the Infection Prevention and Control Manager at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. Samantha has recently completed her Masters in Infection Prevention and Control through Griffith University.