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UrduUniversity of Kentucky students in the Textile Testing Laboratory are helping develop durable, reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers.
Tag: PPE
Genome sequencing reveals widespread COVID-19 infection in white-tailed deer
Houston Methodist’s SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing team has partnered on a study led by Penn State that revealed 80% of white-tailed deer sampled across Iowa at the height of the 2020-2021 deer-hunting season tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Analysis of the virus genome sequences revealed infections were likely the result of multiple human-to-deer transmission “spillover” events followed by deer-to-deer transmission from April 2020 through January 2021.
Grant will support work to improve PPE for health care workers
A multidisciplinary team of researchers is working to improve the design, function and safety of PPE for health care workers. The team received a $1.8 million grant from the CDC to support the work, which will focus on developing biological self-decontaminating fabrics to protect against live pathogens.
COVID-19 transmission risks rise during labor with patients’ heavier breathing
Some medical procedures can put health care workers at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. With these high-risk procedures, it’s important that health care providers have access to personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks. However, not all procedures that may seem high risk have that designation.
Saving Lives: India’s Technical Textile Revolution Paved Way for COVID-19 Response
To help the field grow, Seshadri Ramkumar – now a professor of advanced materials – has partnered with the Indian government and technical textiles organizations around the world to host conferences in India since the early 2000s.
UIC study shows 2% of asymptomatic pediatric dental patients test positive for COVID-19
A study by a University of Illinois Chicago pediatric dentist has shown a novel way to track potential COVID-19 cases — testing children who visit the dentist. The study also showed an over 2% positivity rate for the asymptomatic children tested. Dr. Flavia Lamberghini, UIC clinical assistant professor in the department of pediatric dentistry, has co-authored the article, “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in asymptomatic pediatric dental patients,” in the April 2021 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Research Results: Double Masking During the COVID-19 Pandemic
EPA, along with their co-authors at UNC, recently published an article titled “Fitted Filtration Efficiency of Double Masking During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Research Update: Cleaning & Disinfecting PPE for Reuse
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption in supply chains across multiple sectors including the shortage of critical personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition to hand washing and social distancing, various PPE items are used to prevent contact with…
Rutgers University’s Resilient, Innovative Year Confronting COVID-19
The last year, which has been unlike any other in Rutgers’ 254-year history, has centered on keeping the Rutgers community safe, providing top-notch health care, developing the first saliva test for the coronavirus and helping society cope with the biggest global public health crisis since the 1918 influenza pandemic.
This Anti-COVID Mask Breaks the Mold
To address PPE shortages during the pandemic, scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley are developing a rechargeable, reusable, anti-COVID N95 mask and a 3D-printable silicon-cast mask mold.
Seeking the Most Effective Polymers for Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment, like face masks and gowns, is generally made of polymers. But not much attention is typically given to the selection of polymers used beyond their physical properties. To help with the identification of materials that will bind to a virus and speed its inactivation for use in PPE, researchers have developed a high-throughput approach for analyzing the interactions between materials and viruslike particles. They report their method in the journal Biointerphases.
The Strategic Stockpile Failed; Experts Propose New Approach to Emergency Preparedness
A panel of academic and military experts is calling for a more dynamic, flexible approach to emergency preparedness at the national level.
Rutgers Alumni Donate PPE for Medical Students
The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Alumni Association Board donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for third-and fourth-year medical students who are participating in clinical training in the hospital. Recognizing the importance of PPE in keeping students safe while providing care in a clinical setting, alumni board members ensured that our future physicians were protected and could focus on learning.
Plant-Based Spray Could be Used in N95 Masks and Energy Devices
Engineers have invented a way to spray extremely thin wires made of a plant-based material that could be used in N95 mask filters, devices that harvest energy for electricity, and potentially the creation of human organs. The method involves spraying methylcellulose, a renewable plastic material derived from plant cellulose, on 3D-printed and other objects ranging from electronics to plants, according to a Rutgers-led study in the journal Materials Horizons.
Story Tips From Johns Hopkins Experts On COVID-19
Johns Hopkins Medicine biomedical engineering student Christopher Shallal developed an initiative to keep health care teams safe by galvanizing community members to use 3D printers to make face shields. His mentors on the project were Elizabeth Logsdon, Ph.D., and Warren Grayson, Ph.D.
American Academy of Dermatology honors Detroit physician Iltefat H. Hamzavi with national “Patient Care Hero” award
The American Academy of Dermatology has named board-certified dermatologist Iltefat H. Hamzavi, MD, FAAD, a Patient Care Hero for his innovative use of light therapy to sanitize masks needed by frontline health care workers.
FDA Guidance Fails to Ensure Security of 3D-Printed Masks and PPE
New Brunswick, N.J. (Sept. 16, 2020) – FDA guidelines for making 3D-printed masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in the COVID-19 era fail to defend against cyberattacks, according to Rutgers and Georgia Tech engineers. Due to the…
Face masks, reduced capacity critical when reopening K-12 schools in Indiana, according to new study
A new study by researchers at Notre Dame cautions that K-12 schools reopening to full capacity with little to no compliance of safety measures such as face masks could drive infections up to an estimated 2.49 million in Indiana alone, with more than 9,000 deaths by the end of 2020.
It Takes More than Plexiglass to Protect Against Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2
The FDA just revoked their EUA for intubation boxes – plastic shields that supposedly protect health care workers from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 – due to concerns over aerosol leaks. This study describes a better box, with negative pressure and filtration, that contains airborne virus.
Technion’s Nanofiber PPE Sticker Now In Mass Production
The COVID-busting ‘Maya’ sticker developed by Technion researchers has gone into mass production. Comprised of a nanofiber sheet, the unique sticker can be easily adhered to a protective mask, significantly improving its effectiveness against the novel coronavirus.
Researchers Create Mask Filtration Effectiveness Hierarchy
Infection prevention experts at the UNC Medical Center set out to gather evidence on the fitted filtration efficiency of dozens of different types of masks and mask modifications, including masks sterilized for reuse, expired masks, novel masks sourced from domestic and overseas sources, and homemade masks.
Portable UV Disinfection Chambers Could Help Address PPE Shortage
Portable disinfection chambers that use ultraviolet (UV) light to inactivate virus particles could allow emergency medical technicians, police officers, healthcare workers, pharmacy technicians, and others to quickly disinfect their personal protective equipment (PPE) as they need it.
Helping protect medical professionals
A media comprised of a sandwich of materials, tested by Sandia National Laboratories, is being manufactured into N95-like respirators that could be used in local medical facilities. The project originated from the urgent need for personal protective equipment when the COVID-19 outbreak began.
Atrium Health Tele-ICU Evolves to Meet COVID-19 Challenges
Atrium Health’s tele-ICU quickly adjusted its patient-centered focus to include supporting and protecting bedside nurses caring for patients in isolation, as part of the system’s planning and preparations for the pandemic.
Story Tips From Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
It seems there will never be enough “thank-yous” for the incredible doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff members who are working around the clock to help patients who have COVID-19, the dangerous coronavirus disease. Their dedication, determination and spirit enable Johns Hopkins to deliver the promise of medicine.
As the mother of a 2-year-old, with responsibilities that sometimes require escorting COVID-19 patients at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Safety and Security Officer, SPO, Lolita Moore says she takes the necessary steps to protect herself and her family against the virus and prays daily. “I like that I can still be out helping people during the pandemic,” she says.
Tackling COVID-19 with Optimism and Ingenuity
Joe Stetter is an optimist, inventor, entrepreneur, and owner of two small businesses that stayed open through the lockdown. KWJ Engineering and Spec Sensors manufacture essential health and safety sensors with medical and industrial applications. In our series, The ECS Community Adapts and Advances, Joe shares the challenges of doing business “not as usual”, and reports on a research collaboration he mobilized to improve PPE sterilization for COVID-19 frontline workers.
Ozone Disinfection Could Allow Safe Reuse of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
A new study shows that ozone gas, a highly reactive chemical composed of three oxygen atoms, could provide a safe means for disinfecting certain types of personal protective equipment that are in high demand for shielding health care personnel from Covid-19.
Story Tips From Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
It seems there will never be enough “thank you’s” for the incredible doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff members who are working around the clock to help patients with the dangerous coronavirus disease. Their dedication, determination and spirit enable Johns Hopkins to deliver the promise of medicine.
Gear treated with ‘forever chemicals’ poses risk to firefighters
Graham Peaslee’s team tested more than 30 samples of used and unused PPE from six specialty textile manufacturers in the United States and found them to be treated extensively with PFAS or constructed with fluoropolymers, a type of PFAS used to make textiles oil and water resistant.
Nurses are on the Frontlines of COVID-19 but Their Expertise Remains Missing from Policy Decisions
Nurses’ perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic are unique and essential to informing decisions made by federal leaders, and they should be included in key decision-making groups, urges the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Global oncology pharmacists face restricted access to essential PPE items, UCI study finds
Oncology pharmacy practitioners around the globe are fighting to provide cancer patients high quality cancer care with increasingly limited and sometimes restricted personal protective equipment supply as well as impaired access to essential anticancer medication, according to University of California, Irvine-led study.
Evidence supports physical distancing, masks, and eye protection to help prevent COVID-19
he systematic review was conducted by a large, international collaborative of researchers, front-line and specialist clinicians, epidemiologists, patients, public health and health policy experts of published and unpublished literature in any language.
Editorial: Pandemic Puts Spotlight on Front-line Clinicians
In “A Tribute to Frontline Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Annette Bourgault, editor of Critical Care Nurse, offers her personal and professional appreciation for the dedicated clinicians in acute and critical care.
Researchers Develop Self-disinfecting, Reusable Protective Face Mask
Technion researchers have developed a self-disinfecting, reusable protective face mask. The disinfection process occurs when a layer of carbon fibers in the mask is heated using a low current source, such as a mobile phone charger. A patent application for the invention has been submitted in the U.S.
Evidence shows cloth masks may help against COVID-19
The international research team examined a century of evidence including recent data, and found strong evidence showing that cloth and cloth masks can reduce contamination of air and surfaces.
MAGNET Delivers Improved COVID-19 Testing Platform in Partnership with University Hospitals and the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance
The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), in collaboration with University Hospitals and The Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19, has developed a new, protective testing platform for health care workers assessing the spread of COVID-19. Health care experts at University Hospitals and UH Ventures, their innovation and commercialization division, believe these specially designed barriers could decrease the need for valuable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), speed up the testing process, and better protect frontline health care workers.
Fred Hutch and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance awarded Bank of America grant for COVID-19 relief efforts
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its clinical-care partner, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, announced today the organizations are receiving a $500,000 grant from Bank of America for COVID-19 relief.
UT Dallas Response Lab Projects Add New Dimension To Help COVID-19 Fight
University of Texas at Dallas researchers have designed and 3D-printed a critical ventilator part and are working to manufacture testing swabs and personal protective equipment (PPE) in a campus lab mobilized to address potential supply shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mount Sinai Works With Google Nest to Help Patients With COVID-19
A New Nest Camera Console Enhances Safety of Patients and Staff; Reduces PPE Demands
Ultraviolet Light Exposes Contagion Spread from Improper PPE Use
Despite PPE use, reports show that many health care workers contracted COVID-19. A novel training technique reinforces the importance of using proper procedures to put on and take off PPE when caring for patients during the pandemic. Researchers vividly demonstrate how aerosol-generating procedures can lead to exposure of the contagion with improper PPE use. The most common error made by the health care workers was contaminating the face or forearms during PPE removal.
AACI Calls for Coordinated National COVID-19 Testing Strategy
AACI urges the federal government to take the lead in deploying personal protective equipment to hospitals, establishing a consistent national COVID-19 testing strategy, and managing the COVID-19 testing supply chain.
UCLA leads CDC-funded project to reduce COVID-19 infection among emergency room workers
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is leading a project in collaboration with the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine to study ways to reduce the risk for COVID-19 infection among emergency department workers.
On Campus and At Homes, New Approaches to Manufacturing Protective Equipment Being Developed
From a variety of locations in the Capital Region, and throughout the country, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute faculty, students, and staff are pressing their knowledge and machinery to work making personal protective equipment for those on the front lines of the pandemic.
FAU Nurses Provide PPE for Homeless, Low Income Individuals During Pandemic
A team of FAU nurses is addressing the dire needs of a low income neighborhood in West Palm Beach by spearheading programs to provide lifesaving PPE such as face masks for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. People living in poverty as well as homeless individuals and those struggling with social determinants of health are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and dying from it.
Research and innovation as an essential function amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Necessity being the mother of invention, Houston Methodist clinicians, researchers and staff have collaborated on a number of clinical device and research innovations in response to COVID-19. Houston Methodist Academic Institute leadership has continually emphasized translational research in new technologies.
Surgeons help create new process for disinfecting and reusing N95 masks
Amid shortages of personal protective equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a St. Louis health care system has implemented a process to disinfect disposable N95 respirator masks that allows health care workers to reuse their own mask for up to 20 cycles.
Soup to Nuts
The COVID-19 pandemic demands action on many fronts, from prevention to testing to treatment. Not content to focus its research efforts on just one, the laboratory of George Church in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is tackling the problem from seven different angles.
Children Ages 5 to 18 Create Hundreds of 3D Printed PPEs and Donate Them to Local Hospitals
Over the last month, FAU elementary and high schools students ages 5 to 18, along with two faculty members, have worked tirelessly to create 3D printed face shields, intubation chambers and ear savers for several local hospitals in Palm Beach County. So far, they have produced more than 650 face shields, more than 500 ear savers and 36 intubation chambers and expect to collect another 350 face shields by the end of the week.
Rutgers Supplies Hospitals with PPE to Battle COVID-19
During the coronavirus pandemic, health care professionals worldwide are facing shortages of personal protection equipment (PPE). But faculty, students and staff from across Rutgers are coming together to produce face shields and intubation boxes themselves with off-the-shelf materials to help relieve the PPE shortage at area hospitals.
Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai Donate Personal Protective Equipment to San Diego Health Care Providers
Joe Tsai, co-founder of Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba, and his wife Clara, have donated nearly half a million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be distributed by UC San Diego to health care providers in the San Diego region.