Reuse of masks by about half of medical institutions Doctor group survey April 21, 6:03
While the spread of new coronavirus infection continued, a group made up of doctors investigated how serious the shortage of supplies such as masks became at medical institutions, and found that medical institutions accepting or potentially receiving infected people It turns out that about half of people use disposable masks for several days.
The survey has been conducted online by a group of doctors who are working to deliver supplies such as masks to medical institutions since the end of last month, and by the 20th of this month, 128 medical institutions had responded.
Of these, we examined the status of 75 medical institutions, such as those who are accepting patients with the new coronavirus, or who are likely to accept new infectious diseases in the future. Regarding the surgical masks that can be replaced as many times as necessary, 6 medical institutions answered that they can usually use it, whereas ▽ only one can be used per day 34, ▽ one every 2 to 3 days is 23, ▽ Twelve answered that it was more than 4 days, and it was found that nearly half of the medical institutions used one mask for several days.
In addition, the high-performance mask called N95, which is used when diagnosing patients with infectious diseases, has 22 medical institutions that can be used as usual, ▽ 25 per day per day, and ▽ 2-3 per day per 2-3 days. , ▽ 4 days or more was 25.
In addition, 24 medical institutions with surgical masks and 20 medical institutions with N95 masks will soon be depleted.
Dr. Noboru Hagino of Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, who is the representative of the group of doctors and others who surveyed, said, `` At the beginning of the medical collapse that occurred in New York and other countries, medical workers are not fully covered with masks and other protective equipment. It is said that there was something happening and I need to take immediate action. ”
Female doctor “Mask once a week Fighting the fear of infection”
Female doctors working at medical institutions in the Kansai region have only received one surgical mask per week since the beginning of last month.
The high-performance N95 mask is also used once a week, and both masks continue to use the same one for a week.
For this reason, be careful not to touch the inside of the mask when removing it, and store it by wrapping it in paper after the work of the day is completed.
Beginning this month, he has begun accepting patients infected with the new coronavirus, and he is worried about the current lack of masks.
A female doctor said, "It's so unclean to use it for a week and I'm only wearing a mask that I'm wearing a shape, so I'll work while fighting the fear of what I should do if I got infected and spread the nosocomial infection. I am talking. "
In addition, the supply of various medical supplies such as surgical gowns and gloves is beginning to stagnant against the backdrop of rising global demand, so a female doctor said, `` We have just begun treatment of infected patients, but at the starting point this is the only supply. If I don't have enough, I'm feeling anxious about how many protective gear I will have in the future when infections spread more and more, and I'm worried that I might have to fight naked. I was talking.
Collect used masks for reuse
A surgeon working at a university hospital in the Kyushu region interviewed about the lack of masks at medical institutions.
This hospital is not a designated medical institution for infectious diseases, but with the increase in the number of patients in the area, acceptance of mild patients started about two weeks ago.
Along with that, it is said that the use of surgical masks from the hospital has been limited to one per day.
In addition, from last week, a box for collecting masks was installed in front of the operating room in the hospital, and it was written as "preparation before running out" "Wash well and sterilize" etc. is.
The doctor said, "The mask, which is usually changed after each surgery, has been collected for reuse from last week. Because the
surgery is long and the hands that have been sterilized cannot touch the face. , Nose or sweaty makeup gets sticky inside the mask. It
's physiologically tough to use a mask that you don't know who used it, no matter how sterilized it is. "
Although this doctor has not been treated for patients infected with the new coronavirus, it is likely that they will be mobilized in the future.
Also, since it is not known where in the hospital to contact the infected patient, it is necessary to wear a mask other than surgery, and it is said that he uses his own handmade mask in the hospital.
The doctor said, “I am worried whether I will move my family to my family because I have asthma. I heard that the government is procuring masks, but I do not feel that they are being supplied at the site, so at the very least when I go to the front line to treat I want you to receive the items to protect yourself. "
Responses to calls for donations such as emergency evacuation masks
The group of doctors and others who conducted the survey began a full-scale project this month to discover medical supplies sleeping in private homes and companies and deliver them to medical institutions.
When we called for donations of medical supplies such as surgical masks and N95 masks through SNS, it is said that at least 200 donations were received in about half a month.
In addition to masks, the project also conducts a questionnaire to ask medical institutions about the stock status of gowns, goggles, gloves, and other materials needed to protect the health care workers, and the materials collected through donations are collected at any time. , Is delivered to the medical institution that needs it.
Dr. Noboru Hagino, representative of the group, at Teikyo University Chiba General Medical Center said, “There are companies that have medical masks stockpiled as a measure against the new influenza. As an evacuation measure, I would like to donate such materials to bring the protective equipment to the front line. "
Dr. Hagino calls for requests for donations of goods to be sent by email.
The email address is covid19maskjp@gmail.com.