Personal Protective Equipment News and Research

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Obesity increases risk of contracting COVID-19 after exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers reveal that obesity also increases the risk of contracting COVID-19 following exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

11 Sep 2024

Healthcare workers unprepared for mpox outbreak due to knowledge gaps and vaccine inequity

Research highlights significant gaps in healthcare workers' knowledge of mpox during the 2022-2023 outbreaks, emphasizing the need for better global preparedness and equitable vaccine access.

27 Aug 2024

With only gloves to protect them, farmworkers say they tend sick cows amid bird flu

In early August, farmworkers gathered under a pavilion at a park here for a picnic to celebrate Farmworker Appreciation Day. One sign that this year was different from the others was the menu: Beef fajitas, tortillas, pico de gallo, chips, beans — but no chicken.

27 Aug 2024

Work-related dust exposure linked to increased risk of chronic kidney disease

Exposure to dust and particles at work may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, a University of Gothenburg study shows.

21 Aug 2024

First meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee reports on mpox surge

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), having concurred with the advice offered by the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR or Regulations) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 during its first meeting, held on 14 August 2024, has determined, on the same date, that the ongoing upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the provisions of the Regulations.

20 Aug 2024

Study links chronic noise exposure in power loom weavers to increased blood pressure

Noise exposure is a known occupational hazard in some jobs, particularly for hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, and reduced concentration.

15 Aug 2024

Masking policies prevalent in top cancer centers amid winter COVID wave

Nearly half of the nation's National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers required universal masking in key clinical areas during the winter 2023-2024 COVID-19 surge, according to a study by Tulane University researchers.

1 Aug 2024

Alarming spread of H5N1 bird flu in US dairy cattle reveals cross-species transmission dangers

Researchers discovered that the H5N1 avian influenza virus has spilled over into dairy cattle in the US, posing significant cross-species transmission risks. Their multidisciplinary study reveals the virus's evolution and its zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for heightened biosecurity measures.

25 Jul 2024

Study warns of H5N1 avian flu risk from unpasteurized milk in dairy farms

Researchers found that the H5N1 avian influenza virus can persist in unpasteurized milk on milking equipment, posing an infection risk to dairy workers. They recommend protective gear and sanitization to prevent virus transmission.

4 Jul 2024

Study shows how milking equipment spreads bird flu risk

Bird flu, or H5N1 virus, in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals, report researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

28 Jun 2024

9/11 first responders face increased midlife dementia risk from severe dust exposure

Severe dust exposure among World Trade Center responders is linked to higher rates of dementia before age 65, highlighting long-term cognitive risks from 9/11.

17 Jun 2024

Farmworkers face high-risk exposures to bird flu, but testing isn’t reaching them

Farmworkers face some of the most intense exposures to the bird flu virus, but advocates say many of them would lack resources to fall back on if they became ill.

29 May 2024

Study confirms face masks' effectiveness in reducing disease transmission, calls for improved public understanding

Researchers reviewed the benefits, practicalities, and harms of masks and masking, finding that masks are effective in reducing respiratory disease transmission despite some adverse effects, and emphasized the need for improved public understanding and policies.

23 May 2024

Study highlights COVID-19 challenges for perinatal women in Latino communities

Public policies blocked many families of Mexican descent living in the U.S. from accessing vital services such as food and mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though these communities experienced some of the highest infection and mortality rates.

5 Apr 2024

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by how unprepared and misguided the American health system was.

19 Mar 2024

Harnessing artificial intelligence for infectious disease prevention

A new research review to be given at a pre-congress day for this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) will look at the many ways artificial intelligence can help prevent infectious disease outbreaks including ensuring staff wear personal protective equipment correctly and managing day-to-day hospital activities such as medication prescription and cleaning.

27 Feb 2024

Harnessing artificial intelligence to enhance infectious disease outbreak investigations

A new research review to be given at a pre-congress day for this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) will highlight the potential artificial intelligence (AI) has to improve the speed and accuracy of investigations into infectious disease outbreaks in hospitals, and potentially provide real time information to stop or prevent them.

27 Feb 2024

Research reveals disparities in workplace experiences for minority ethnic NHS staff during the pandemic

Minority ethnic NHS staff were more likely to face workplace harassment, discrimination, and unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE) than their White British colleagues during the pandemic, reveals research published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

21 Feb 2024

Cirrhosis patients face mixed infection outcomes amid pandemic healthcare shifts

The COVID-19 pandemic's influence on healthcare systems led to mixed outcomes for patients with cirrhosis, showing stable infection rates but a rise in multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) infections.

7 Feb 2024

Study assesses effectiveness of strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in healthcare settings

Researchers analyzed whether infection prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were adequate in protecting healthcare workers.

22 Jan 2024