There’s a simple tool that can help keep healthcare workers from contracting or spreading infection. It’s the respirator. Most of us have seen or used one of these physical barriers to keep airborne infections like H1N1, tuberculosis, or SARS at bay. But did you know that respirators are effective only when used properly? Even the simple donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) process can, if performed incorrectly, expose healthcare workers to disease-causing agents. An insufficient seal or improper fit can allow pathogens to sneak through. Finally, some workers don’t have access to the appropriate kind of respirator, and some even have to reuse the ones they do have.
.jpg?width=80&name=Lisa_Pompeii_(2).jpg)
