Personal Protective Equipment in Health Workers during Coronavirus Disease-19 Outbreak

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID)-19 pandemic has put immense pressure on the healthcare systems worldwide AIM: The aim of the actual study was to assess the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health workers (HWs) during an outbreak METHODS: The study was conducted in April-May 2020 using an on-line questionnaire Completed surveys were returned by 560 HWs (297 physicians, 79 nurses/technicians, 78 dentists, 9 pharmacists, and 97 other HWs) RESULTS: High proportion of HWs was using one surgery mask for two or more times or not using it at all when contacting patients who were self-isolated (35 3%) or severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV)-2 positive (19 3%) More than 90% of participants were using surgery masks and gloves every time or almost every time while working with patients who were self-isolated or SARS-CoV-2 positive High frequency of participants reported: No isolation zones at the workplace (61 2%), no triage of patients at the entrance (33 4%), and not attended a training course about the correct usage of PPE (72%) CONCLUSION: The data obtained can be used in the creation of specific interventions in healthcare settings aimed at providing high-quality PPE through the development of a national healthcare strategy that can lead to the prevention of COVID-19 in HWs © 2020 Dragan Mijakoski, Sasho Stoleski, Dragana Bislimovska, Elena Pazheska-Dimitrioski, Elizabeta Karasmanakis, Jordan Minov, Jovanka Karadzinska-Bislimovska