Health care workers protection during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

The infection risk among frontline health care workers (HCW) is one of the most concerning aspects of COVID-19. Knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still insufficient. However, direct, person-to-person contact appears to be the main route. Secondary transmission can also occur and intensive care units have shown greater contamination than general wards. Risk of transmission by infectious aerosols distributed through the ventilation system duct is considered to be very low. Screening and triaging everyone entering a health care facility is crucial in order to prevent rapid spread among hospital personnel and patients. Recommendations on airborne precautions in the health care setting vary by location, but are universally to be implemented when aerosol-generating procedures are performed. Surgical masks or respirators are currently critical supplies that should be reserved for HCW. Both types of masks need to be used in combination with other personal protective equipment measures. COVID-19 patients should be cohorted and only patients undergoing aerosol generating procedures should be placed in airborne infection isolation rooms.