PPE requirements when caring for a person with suspected or confirmed acute respiratory infection (ARI): text equivalent of poster
Updated 28 March 2024
Applies to England
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Table. PPE requirements when caring for a person with suspected or confirmed ARI
| Activity | Disposable gloves (of the type appropriate to perform the task) | Disposable apron | Disposable fluid-repellent gown | Disposable fluid repellent surgical mask type IIR | Filtering face piece respirator (for example FFP3) | Eye/face protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giving personal care to a person with suspected or confirmed ARI | Only wear if risk assessment indicates likely contact with blood and body fluids. Single use (note 1) | Only wear if risk assessment indicates likely contact with blood and body fluids. Single use (note 1) | Single use (note 1) (Only wear by exception instead of apron if likely risk of extensive exposure to blood or body fluids) | Single use (note 1) | No | Single use (note 1) or sessional use (note 2) |
| General cleaning duties in the room of a person with suspected or confirmed ARI | Only wear if risk assessment indicates likely contact with blood, body fluids, chemicals or cleaning products. Single use (note 1) | Only wear if risk assessment indicates likely contact with blood, body fluids, chemicals or cleaning products. Single use (note 1) | No | Single use (note 1) | No | Single use (note 1) |
| or sessional use (note 2) | ||||||
| For tasks other than those listed above, at least when within one metre of a person with suspected or confirmed ARI | Only wear if risk assessment indicates likely contact with blood and body fluids. Single use (note 1) | Only wear if risk assessment indicates likely contact with blood and body fluids. Single use (note 1) | No | Single use (note 1) | No | Single use (note 1) or sessional use (note 2) |
| Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) (note 4) on a person with suspected or confirmed ARI | Single use (note 1) | Single use (note 1) | Single use (note 1) (may be indicated instead of apron if risk of extensive splashing) | No | Single use (note 1) (the user needs to be fit tested for a specific respirator and perform a fit-check to ensure correct fitting) | Single use (note 1] and note 3]) or sessional use (note 2] and note 3]) |
Note 1: Single use refers to disposal of PPE or decontamination of reusable items (for example eye protection), after each person and/or following completion of a procedure, task, or session2.
Note 2: A single session refers to a period of time where a care worker is undertaking duties in a specific care setting/exposure environment (for example in a bay caring for service users with flu or COVID-19). A session ends when the care worker leaves the care setting/exposure environment. Sessional use should always be risk assessed. PPE should be replaced or decontaminated (if reusable) of after each session or earlier if damaged, soiled, or uncomfortable.
Note 3: If the filtering face piece respirator (for example FFP3) is not fluid resistant, this needs to be a full-face visor (which covers the eyes, nose and mouth area).
Note 4: A list of aerosol-generating procedures can be found at NHSE NIPCM» Chapter 2, paragraph 2.5: aerosol generating procedures