Abstract

We read the study by Tompkins et. al. PPE for Care of Pandemic Influenza Patients: A Training Workshop for the PAPR1 , with great interest. Since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic of the influenza virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines state that healthcare providers (HCP), when performing or participating in procedures that are associated with pathogen generating aerosols (aerosol generating procedures or AGPs), they should wear an N95 filter mask and consider powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). AGPs include performance of the following procedures in patients with acute respiratory diseases : intubation and related procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bronchoscopies, surgeries and autopsies.