University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Minneapolis, MN 55419, USA.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2012;9(10):563-71. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2012.711699.
Fit is an important but difficult-to-predict feature of respirator performance. This study examined a new approach to measuring respirator performance using two continuous direct-reading particle-counting instruments in a simulated health care workplace. A pilot test was conducted with eight experienced health care professionals who passed a traditional quantitative fit test before performing three randomized 10-min health care scenarios (patient assessment [PA], IV treatment [IV], and wound care [WC]). Two TSI Portacount Plus (Model 8020) with N95 Companion (Model 8095) instruments were used to continuously measure 1-sec ambient particle concentrations inside and outside the respirator facepiece. A simulated workplace protection factor (SWPF) was calculated by dividing outside by inside concentrations. Data were log transformed and examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) between subjects, scenario types, and scenario order. The GM SWPF for the eight subjects, three scenarios per subject, ranged from 172 to 1073 (GSD 1.7 to 3.5) and was significantly different for each subject. A multi-way analysis of variance showed no difference between the three scenario types (PA, IV, WC). There were differences by the order in which scenarios were performed: the third scenario SWPF was significantly different and higher than that of the first and second scenarios. All subjects passed the initial quantitative fit test with a fit factor of at least 100. Five subjects had fit factors greater than 200 and GM scenario SWPFs greater than 400. Three participants with initial fit factors less than 200 had GM scenario SWPFs ranging from 132 to 326. This pilot test demonstrates that it is possible to evaluate instantaneous respirator fit using two quantitative fit test instruments in a simulated health care environment. Results suggest that an initial fit test may be predictive of fit during simulated tasks and that one scenario may be adequate for measuring a simulated workplace protection factor. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene for the following free supplemental resource: a video for subject D activities overlaid with simulated workplace protection factor data.].
贴合度是呼吸器性能的一个重要但难以预测的特征。本研究采用两种连续直接读数粒子计数仪器，在模拟的医疗保健工作场所中检查了一种测量呼吸器性能的新方法。对 8 名经验丰富的医疗保健专业人员进行了试点测试，这些专业人员在进行三个随机的 10 分钟医疗保健场景（患者评估[PA]、IV 治疗[IV]和伤口护理[WC]）之前通过了传统的定量贴合测试。使用两台 TSI Portacount Plus（型号 8020）和 N95 伴侣（型号 8095）仪器连续测量 1 秒呼吸器面罩内外的环境粒子浓度。通过将外部浓度除以内部浓度来计算模拟工作场所保护因子（SWPF）。对数转换数据后，使用受试者间、场景类型和场景顺序的方差分析（ANOVA）进行检查。8 名受试者的 8 个场景的平均 SWPF 范围为 172 到 1073（GSD 为 1.7 到 3.5），且每个受试者的结果均不同。多因素方差分析表明，三种场景类型（PA、IV、WC）之间没有差异。在执行场景的顺序方面存在差异：第三个场景的 SWPF 明显更高，与第一个和第二个场景的 SWPF 不同。所有受试者都通过了初始定量贴合测试，贴合因子至少为 100。5 名受试者的贴合因子大于 200，GM 场景 SWPF 大于 400。3 名初始贴合因子小于 200 的参与者的 GM 场景 SWPF 范围为 132 到 326。该试点测试表明，在模拟医疗保健环境中使用两台定量贴合测试仪器评估即时贴合度是可行的。结果表明，初始贴合测试可能可以预测模拟任务期间的贴合度，且一个场景可能足以测量模拟工作场所保护因子。[本文提供了补充材料。请访问期刊《职业与环境卫生杂志》的出版商在线版本，获取以下免费补充资源：一个叠加了模拟工作场所保护因子数据的供受试者 D 活动的视频。]
