Protecting the faces of health care workers

The objective of this report is to summarize our findings from an analysis of the key domains, as pertinent to improving the effectiveness of facial protective equipment (FPE) in preventing occupational-associated respiratory disease transmission in healthcare workers. The report includes: 1) a review of the scientific literature dealing with bioaerosols, filtration and how this influences the design and performance of FPE; 2) a review of the scientific literature of the organizational, environmental and individual factors that influence the effectiveness of occupational health and safety in general, and infection control procedures, in particular 3) an analysis of these factors as identified through a series of 15 focus group discussions involving front-line healthcare workers and; 4) a framework for assigning priorities for further research and a list of priorities derived from the gaps identified in the literature review and the priorities of front-line healthcare workers.