Course Access
- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Dear Members
I am seeking clarification over the type of respiratory protection mask currently in use in your facilities.
In light of recent guidance from DoHA /CDNA over MERS-CoV, which stipulated:
Airborne transmission precautions, including routine use of a P2 respirator, disposable gown, gloves, and eye protection when entering a patient care area and refers readers to the Australian Guidelines for Prevention and Control in Healthcare 2010. This would indicate to me that P2 masks are to be used as The Guidelines refer to the use of P2 masks for airborne precautions and cite appropriate Australian Standards for P2 respirators.
However, there are 3 sections in the Guidelines that cause some confusion: Table B1.6 cites an N95 respirator as being another name for a P2 respirator; Figure B2:2 shows correct process for donning a P2 respirator using a picture of what appears to be a N95 mask and Table B2.1 uses the terminology P2 (N95) respirator – which would indicate these two masks are the same.
As a P2 and an N95 are different masks and only P2 meet Australian Standards I would appreciate feedback on what others are currently using and your interpretation of the Guidelines.
Many thanks
Rebecca
Rebecca McCann Program Manager
Healthcare Associated Infection Unit (HAIU)
Communicable Disease Control Directorate Department of Health
Grace Vaughan House
227 Stubbs Terrace
SHENTON PARK WA 6008
T:08 9388 4859 M:0439 920 819 F:08 9388 4888
E:rebecca.mccann@health.wa.gov.auThe contents of this e-mail transmission are intended for the named recipients only and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you received this message in error, you must not copy, duplicate, forward, print or otherwise distribute any information contained herein, but must ensure that this e-mail is permanently deleted and advise the sender immediately.
Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of ACIPC.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to aicalist@aicalist.org.au
To send a message to the list administrator send an email to aicalist-request@aicalist.org.au.
You can unsubscribe from this list be sending ‘signoff aicalist’ (without the quotes) to listserv@aicalist.org.au
Hi Rebecca,
The way I understand it a P2 respirator and an N95 respirator are functionally the same. N95 is NIOSH designation in the United Sates. P2 is the Australia classification. Both filter almost to the same level with N95 filtering 95% of particles and P2 filter 94% of particles (although there are slightly different particle sizes and velocities in the respective standards which means a respirator may be meeting both standards and EN classification as well). P2 is the Australian designation and relates to the AS/NZS standard 1716 (2009). In an Australian facility we should be using P2 respirators (and using this description in our documents) as this is what our standard requires. Manufacturers may only brand their product as N95 but they may meet P2 as well If so the manufacturer should provide written documentation of this.We should also be encouraging the use of the correct terminology as these are respiratory protective devices (respirators) under the standard and not masks. Because of this there are the requirements of medical clearance to use, fit testing and education programs in the standard that health services need to provide for staff using these devices, which is where our colleagues in Workplace Health and Safety come in.
Cheers Matt
Matt Mason
RN, BNSci, Grad Dip (Remote Health), M Rural Health, M Adv Prac (Inf Cont), CICPLecturer/Campus Co-ordinator
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition
James Cook University
Thursday Island
Qld, 4875
AustraliaP: (07) 4069 2670
I: +61 7 4069 2670
F: (07) 4069 2627
E: matt.mason@jcu.edu.au
W: http://www.jcu.edu.au/nursing/JCU CRICOS Provider Code: 00117J
Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of ACIPC.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to aicalist@aicalist.org.au
To send a message to the list administrator send an email to aicalist-request@aicalist.org.au.
You can unsubscribe from this list be sending ‘signoff aicalist’ (without the quotes) to listserv@aicalist.org.au
Hi Rebecca
Some of the confusion is partly my fault, as when the 2004 national guidelines were in draft I insisted on the use of both the term P2 (the Australian Standard for protective masks) and N95 (The US nomenclature), as the Australian Standard at that time had no specific biological safety component within its respiratory protection standard, and N95 did specifically address biological hazards. This is listed in Section 13.4 of the 2004 guidelines. This has been carried over to the current national guidelines (refer section B1 2.4, that contains the table you cited) with no real discussion on the different nomenclature. I havent kept up with any recent changes in the relevant Australian Standard (AS/NZS 1715 and 1716), so am unaware if this inequity has been addressed or not. Basically at the time it seemed like a good idea to allow healthcare facilities to use US standard N95 masks for respiratory protective devices, as well as those that met Australian Standard designation P2. Although the AS/NZS and US Standards are different, at the time if writing the 2004 guidelines, it was agreed by the expert group that for biological hazards there was enough evidence to suggest they would be similar in protective function.
Most of the facilities I have worked at in the past decade use respiratory protective masks based on the N95 US Standard, which seem to be more readily available on the Australian market. There are, however, masks which are also approved under AS/NZS P2 designation, and some which are approved under both AS/NZS and US Standards.
It may be worth contacting the ACSQHC to ensure further clarification of the role of the various standards designations of respiratory protection is clarified in future national guideline updates.
Someone involved in the expert group who wrote the current national guidelines may also wish to comment on this, perhaps?
Cheers
MichaelMichael Wishart
CNC Infection Control
Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital
627 Rode Road, Chermside, Qld 4032
t: (07) 3326 3068 | f: (07) 3607 2226
e: Michael.Wishart@hsn.org.au
w:www.holyspiritnorthside.org.au
Please consider the environment before printing this emailDear Members
I am seeking clarification over the type of respiratory protection mask currently in use in your facilities.In light of recent guidance from DoHA /CDNA over MERS-CoV, which stipulated:
Airborne transmission precautions, including routine use of a P2 respirator, disposable gown, gloves, and eye protection when entering a patient care area and refers readers to the Australian Guidelines for Prevention and Control in Healthcare 2010. This would indicate to me that P2 masks are to be used as The Guidelines refer to the use of P2 masks for airborne precautions and cite appropriate Australian Standards for P2 respirators.However, there are 3 sections in the Guidelines that cause some confusion: Table B1.6 cites an N95 respirator as being another name for a P2 respirator; Figure B2:2 shows correct process for donning a P2 respirator using a picture of what appears to be a N95 mask and Table B2.1 uses the terminology P2 (N95) respirator – which would indicate these two masks are the same.
As a P2 and an N95 are different masks and only P2 meet Australian Standards I would appreciate feedback on what others are currently using and your interpretation of the Guidelines.
Many thanks
Rebecca
Rebecca McCann Program Manager
Healthcare Associated Infection Unit (HAIU)
Communicable Disease Control Directorate Department of Health
Grace Vaughan House
227 Stubbs Terrace
SHENTON PARK WA 6008
T:08 9388 4859 M:0439 920 819 F:08 9388 4888
E:rebecca.mccann@health.wa.gov.auThe contents of this e-mail transmission are intended for the named recipients only and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you received this message in error, you must not copy, duplicate, forward, print or otherwise distribute any information contained herein, but must ensure that this e-mail is permanently deleted and advise the sender immediately.
Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of ACIPC.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to aicalist@aicalist.org.au
To send a message to the list administrator send an email to aicalist-request@aicalist.org.au.
You can unsubscribe from this list be sending ‘signoff aicalist’ (without the quotes) to listserv@aicalist.org.au
________________________________
Message protected by MailGuard: e-mail anti-virus, anti-spam and content filtering.
http://www.mailguard.com.auReport this message as spam
—
WARNING : This email contains information, which is CONFIDENTIAL, and that maybe subject to LEGAL PRIVILEGE. This e-mail and any attachments to it (the “Communication”) is confidential and is for the use only of the intended recipient, and may not duplicated or used by any other party without the express consent of the sender. The Communication may contain copyright material of St Vincent’s Health & Aged Care(“SVHAC”), or any of its related entities or of third parties. If you are not the intended recipient of the Communication, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, delete the Communication, and do not read, copy, print, retransmit, store or act in reliance on the Communication. Any views expressed in the Communication are those of the individual sender only, unless expressly stated to be those of SVHAC. SVHAC does not guarantee the integrity of the Communication, or that it is free from errors, viruses or interference. Thank-you.Message protected by MailGuard: e-mail anti-virus, anti-spam and content filtering.
http://www.mailguard.com.auMessages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of ACIPC.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to aicalist@aicalist.org.au
To send a message to the list administrator send an email to aicalist-request@aicalist.org.au.
You can unsubscribe from this list be sending ‘signoff aicalist’ (without the quotes) to listserv@aicalist.org.au
- The forum ‘Infexion Connexion’ is closed to new topics and replies.