AUSTRALIA needs to update its guidelines to ensure healthcare workers have continuous access to N95 respirators to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19, researchers believe.
In an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), authors from the University of NSW and Monash University, said current guidelines were "not aligned with the growing body of scientific evidence around transmission and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection".
"The initial proclamation that SARS-CoV-2 is spread by droplets and contact was not based on strong evidence, and there is no data quantifying the different modes of potential transmission," they said.
"The guidelines for protection of health care workers (HCWs) in Australia state that a medical mask is indicated for routine care of COVID-19 patients, and a respirator only for aerosol-generating procedures.
"The best available evidence specific to COVID-19 is a WHO commissioned systematic review and meta-analysis, which found that N95 respirators offer significantly better protection (96%) than surgical masks (67%) against SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2.
"Health workers treating COVID-19 patients or suspected COVID-19 patients should be afforded optimal protection, which is a respirator.
"Our health workers are a precious asset, and warrant the highest protection -- not simply for their occupational health and safety, but for a functional and resilient health system."
With more than 500 HCWs contracting COVID-19 across Australia, the authors also called for greater transparency in attribution of source of infection when HWCs become infected.
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