Personal Protective Equipment for Filovirus Epidemics: A Call for Better Evidence

Armand G. Sprecher, An Caluwaerts, Mike Draper, Heinz Feldmann, Clifford P. Frey, Renee H. Funk, Gary Kobinger, James W. Le Duc, Christina Spiropoulou, Warren Jon Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an important part of worker protection during filovirus outbreaks. The need to protect against a highly virulent fluid-borne pathogen in the tropical environment imposes a heat stress on the wearer that is itself a safety risk. No evidence supports the choice of PPE employed in recent outbreaks, and standard testing procedures employed by the protective garment industry do not well simulate filovirus exposure. Further research is needed to determine the appropriate PPE for filoviruses and the heat stress that it imposes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)S98-S100
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume212
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2015

Keywords

  • Ebola
  • heat stress disorders
  • hemorrhagic fever
  • protective clothing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Personal Protective Equipment for Filovirus Epidemics: A Call for Better Evidence'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this