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Assessment of personal protective equipment used for facial mucocutaneous exposure protection in nonhuman primate areas

Abstract

Animal caretakers working in NHP areas must wear facial PPE to protect themselves from the zoonotic hazards related to splash exposures, but PPE that is uncomfortable may present its own risks. The authors evaluated the level of protection offered by several types of facial PPE against a variety of simulated facial mucocutaneous exposures of the sort that could occur during typical procedures in Old World NHP facilities and determined that less restrictive PPE can be used without compromising safety.

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Figure 1: To assess worker exposure resulting from a direct spray, we sprayed paint at 90° angle from the anterior plane of the face.
Figure 2: To assess worker exposure from peripheral spray, we sprayed paint (a) at 45° angle from the anterior plane of the face, superiorly and inferiorly, and (b) at 45° from the lateral plane of the face from posterior on the left and right sides.
Figure 3: To assess patient exposure to spray produced by the worker, we sprayed paint from the back of the mannequin head through a hole that had been bored in the mouth.
Figure 4: Examples of facial PPE tested.
Figure 5

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Correspondence to Dale M. Cooper DVM, MS, DACLAM.

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Cooper, D., Charles, D., Durnell, A. et al. Assessment of personal protective equipment used for facial mucocutaneous exposure protection in nonhuman primate areas. Lab Anim 34, 49–53 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0505-49

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